Kenyan detectives have arrested a Russian national linked to a human trafficking syndicate accused of illegally recruiting Kenyans to join the Russian army and fight in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
The suspect, Mike Lyapin, an employee of the Russian Embassy in Nairobi, was arrested on Thursday evening after allegedly attempting to hide from authorities.
Police say Lyapin, who has been in Kenya since 2017, is a key figure in the recruitment cartel. He is expected to be deported to Moscow later Friday.
His arrest came just hours after the DCI rescued 21 Kenyans from apartments in Athi River, where they were allegedly being processed for travel to Russia under false promises of well-paying jobs.
Detectives believe the victims were being prepared for forced conscription into the Russian military.
In a parallel operation, police also arrested Edward Kamau Gituku, accused of coordinating the victims’ travel.
He was arraigned on Friday, and detectives were granted 10 days to detain him as investigations continue.
During the Athi River raid, officers seized cheque books, travel documents, job offer letters, and contracts linking Global Face Human Resource Ltd and Ecopillars Manpower Ltd to the suspected trafficking network.
Investigators say the two firms had signed a one-year deal to “recruit, screen and deploy Kenyans to Russia.”
Victims told police they were coerced into signing contracts requiring them to pay between Sh1.65 million and Sh2.3 million for visas, flights, and logistics, with a penalty of 1% daily for late payments.
Some had already paid deposits of Sh50,000–Sh100,000 after being promised monthly salaries of Sh200,000.
The arrest comes amid growing concern over Kenyans duped into fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Last week, a video of Evans Kibet, a 36-year-old Kenyan athlete, went viral after he claimed from captivity in Ukraine that he had been tricked into travelling to Russia for athletics but was later forced into the Russian army. Ukrainian forces confirmed he was captured in Kharkiv Oblast.
Kenyan authorities say the cartel appears well-coordinated and backed by powerful individuals.
Investigations are ongoing as police work to dismantle the network, warning that it has preyed on young Kenyans desperate for work abroad, only to send them to the battlefield.
