Dehumanising Of Kenyans recruited into the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Another striking story as well that caught my attention on the Sunday Nation yesterday is about stories of Kenyans who are moving abroad to look for job opportunities and much of them it has ended up tragic. Some of them have lost their lives. Some of them have ended up in battle fronts, especially those that have unfortunately been transitioned to Ukraine, the war in Ukraine and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This striking article by John Jaro highlights a part of the stories that consistently It's It's like a novel. It keeps on unfolding. So, one of one of the of the quotes of the highlights of this story is that official records indicate that more than a thousand Kenyans have been lured to go to Russia to join the war in Ukraine. Many finding themselves on the front line cannon fodder. And this just paints a grim picture of what's happening in the country, James, especially in regards to unemployment. Because when you look at some of these job offers, when they're advertised, it's always It's It's striking. It's actually captivating and it looks like it's an easy gig cuz they're they're giving a huge sum amount of money. For example, now if they're giving you a job like in Dubai or any of the Gulf countries, they're telling you you'll be earning a hundred and fifty thousand bucks per month, yeah. And then you when you end up there, you find yourself in a different country and the way it happens is just confusing. But here's the gag. In as much as some of these absurd stories continue coming out, still Kenyans are going ahead for the same same thing. I don't know. Do you believe maybe we are gullible in terms of us just not knowing better or maybe it's desperation for opportunities, yeah. >> You cannot say we are fools though cuz I think it's all about desperation. Remember some of some of the Kenyans that live in the slums. When you get a deal like that, you've been told uh you're just going to to to to even to drive trucks. That's That's another way of they are capturing of the the they are capturing and taking people there. Then you are you are being told that you're going to be paid an upfront of 2 million, then you'll be paid a monthly of 140,000 Kenya shillings. That's a lot of money per month for just 1 year. That's a lot of money and I think that's why the deal seems so sweet in a way that is captivating a lot of unemployed even young people. Cuz even looking the country what is happening right now, you'll be talking about wagons in a lot. Why why why is the wagon really a culture in Kenya? Cuz a lot of young people are being employed are unemployed that is and they are desperate for anything. Just desperate to to get that small amount of cash that that might come their way. So that's why some of the deals when you see these deals, they are very good. Let's say it was not about Let's say just an informal job that you're going to be paid in that such amount of money. 140,000 Kenya shillings per month. That's a good That's a good employment. So it's a good uh I think the unemployed people are going who are going for the deal, I think they just think it to themselves and saying, "Okay, let me let me just go do this for for just 1 year, then I'll be I'll be rich." So that's the assumption that they have. In real sense, you see what is happening. You're being taken to a country country where there's war going on. Then you're being put in the front. You don't have even the military experience. >> Yeah. >> Then of course you're going to die. >> In fact, it's it's really sad cuz this is what usually happened and there was so those are report that was submitted in parliament on I think early in the beginning when they're trying to have a review of this and it said the report submitted by the National Intelligence Service NIS said 89 Kenyans were on the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war as of February this year. That was just early in the beginning of the year and at least one Kenyan died. But the the highlight of the Sunday Nation by Joan Jomo has mentioned more. It says In fact, there's names as well. Even though they're saying more than a thousand Kenyans have been lured. >> Yeah, and they're not going to be accounted for. >> Yes, and they said Dennis Ombore, I think he's among those that tragically lost their lives. Dennis Ombore, Clinton Nyabera, Eric Mwangi, Joseph Kamau, and Ronald Kipkorir are just part of the few that are known that lost their lives. But it's it's also sad because I think you've mentioned part where you stepped into this gig cuz most of them, when you look at this article that was had been alerted by the BBC, I want to get the the place exactly where it says what it usually happens according to whenever that So, however, whenever there's heightened surveillance at JKIA, traffickers reportedly change tactics, rerouting victims through South Africa, Uganda, and other states. The report identified some of the rogue agencies behind recruitment of Kenyans and medical facilities used for testing. Authorities say several suspects, including alleged masterminds, remain under active investigation with further arrests expected. And this is actually an article that was highlighting by the BBC. So, a prime cabinet secretary, who's also current foreign affairs as well, said Kenya was working closely with Russia on curbing illegal recruitment practices, including discussions on visa policy and bilateral labor agreements excluding military conscription. So, the act of actually being recruited into the army is called enlisting. >> Yeah. >> But also it's sad these young people that >> Yeah. >> just are voluntarily accepting it. And that's where maybe there's some sort of being gullible in there. And as much as this conversation is being highlighted, they're still going for it because of the pay. >> Yeah, just the pay. Cuz you know, there's no escape way cuz no matter where no matter how it will go, eventually it will end bad for you cuz remember after Mudavadi went there, then they talked about now what what should be done. Remember that they said the government won't even come to help you. So let's say you're going to to the battle, maybe you survive. But you've seen what what you what happens when you're captivated by even by Ukraine. You're going to be be a prisoner for them cuz you're fighting for the wrong side or you're fighting for the for the opposite side. So there's no there's no escape way for you. And you are not being compensated by the government any of the government not not the Russian government or the Kenyan government. So it's all on you. So as much as as much as we're talking about it, I think not not a lot of people are paying attention to it. They're just looking at the money and saying, "Okay, let me go." And the way the recruiters are doing it is way even even even let's say even something that is I don't know how to explain to explain it because I was just reading the article and so how they are they are capturing people and taking them all the way to Russia. You'll be you'll you you get a visa, you go to Uganda as a visa then when you get to Uganda, go all the way to Turkey. Then now it's from Turkey you go to Moscow. So it's a whole process. So in the whole process >> triangulation is like >> Yeah, and you know and you know exactly what's happening cuz if you if you if you have agreed to get one point to another point to another point, of course you know what's happening what's going to happen. So it's all on the people. If if the government already spoke about it, the articles have been you've been talking about it. Remember the first day we talked about it was I think last year when there was a clip of that I that that man who went to to to Russia thinking that he was going to drive the trucks, but he ended up being the battlefield. So it's something that has been going on. Most of them actually are being told they're going as guards to be trained as security guards. And then it turns out that they're trained to be, you know, not even trained. They're they're [clears throat] taken to some sort of like a military camp. Within 2 weeks bro, within 2 weeks are you even in full, you know, skill? Even in an internship for 2 weeks, you've not yet mastered it yet. >> won't master it, man. >> But the job is you're a guard, security guard. How do you transition from a security guard to uh a military combat within 2 weeks? And then, the saddest part is you're thrown at the front line, and that already just tells you you're ready to lose your life. But again, I think what continues to shock me is that in as much as these conversations have been highlighted, >> Yeah. >> Kenyans are still flocking to these places. But also think most people to blame as well are these recruiting agencies. Because how they're processing these visas, and also the way they're announcing and advertising these uh opportunities is kind of misleading. Because if you're telling somebody they're going to work as a guard >> Yeah. >> in the Gulf, >> Yeah. >> why are they ending up at a military war in Russia and Ukraine? But again, let me just read to you what uh Ukraine responded. So, last November, Ukraine's foreign minister said more than 1,400 people from six countries in Africa, literally at large, have been recruited to fight for Russia. Ukraine had had also previously come in for criticism for trying to recruit foreign nationals, including Africans, to fight on its side. Ukrainian officials have reportedly warned that anyone fighting for Russia will be treated as an enemy combatant, and that and that only safe route out is to surrender and be treated as a prisoner. >> Yeah. >> there was a there was also I don't know if it was a law or a stipulation that I think mandated those that had surrendered themselves that they either be repatriated back or maybe taken to like a safer place. >> Mhm. >> But again, the according to the to the rules and the laws in that country, once you start fighting >> Yeah. >> for the enemy, you have become an absolute target. So, I think there's a lot to be done, especially even with the foreign affairs >> Mhm. >> uh cabinet cabinet secretary for foreign affairs, who is also prime uh cabinet secretary, and also cabinet secretary labor, who is >> Yeah. >> Uh Alfred Mutua in >> In terms of ensuring that there's safer job recruitments because you remember there's a time they announced mass job recruitment. >> Mhm. >> Still I think it was in the Gulf. >> Mhm. >> But again they had different auditions in different places. There's one that took place in the church, there's one in lower Kabete, and another one at KICC. >> Mhm. >> And people ended up abroad but then there's also different complaints coming through. >> Yeah. >> And that really is absurd. >> Yeah, because when when the deal is too good, man, just think twice before you even you hop and you hop into into some of those deals. You know, the mentality that I think is affecting us is because we believe that um when you get out of Kenya, maybe opportunities out of Kenya are better than what you what you have in your country. So, that's why people are even jumping to those type of opportunities cuz they're thinking, "Okay, let me just go and get that money cuz in Kenya I cannot work for for that money for a year." So, they're saying, "Oh, that's a good opportunity for me and that's a it's a good way to get myself out of poverty." But in real sense you see what's happening cuz uh as much as we are saying uh the government need to do something, also the responsibility I think is in the people. You have so you have said about how people being gullible and I think I'm going to support that support that cuz why are you choosing to go and fight or even to go um for opportunity that you don't know even have the details for? You've just been told, "Okay, there's opportunity. There's this and this. Let's go." Uh you've been recruited and not uh really going not knowing what you're going to to do there. Remember remember military takes about even 6 months to to just train. Now you're going there for 2 weeks. You're you're being you've been given a gun. Remember now let's let's imagine 2 weeks you've been given a gun, all types of guns and told this this does this this this does this. Then you won't have the the the even the the tactics enough to even to operate some of this uh some of these weapons. So, that's why they are they are ending up being being uh easily captured. Remember even in the front front line, you're being like you're just being used as a sacrificial lamb. Cuz I believe their their military is not in the front line. Only the the new recruits, which are from other from other foreign countries. So, that's why that's why they they are using people now. And I saw the article they stated somewhere about they are they are being marked. Like that's how they know this is a foreign >> Yeah. So, >> I can't fit an ink or a tattoo. >> Yeah, so it's a tattoo. I think a tattoo. Yeah. So, they're just being marked so that they know it's not one of our people. This is not one of us. Even if you get lost, they won't follow up. So, it's all on you. >> Plus you're black already. So, in short, you're just a guinea pig. As so Kenya's foreign minister Amina Mohamed said Nairobi had shut down more than 600 rogue recruitment agencies suspected of duping Kenyans with promises of jobs overseas. Uh even though some of the suspects, including the alleged mastermind, remain under active investigation with further arrests expected. Investigations continues as officials seek additional suspects and work to rescue Kenyans still caught in the conflict. The report identifies some of the rogue agencies behind recruitment of Kenyans and the medical facilities used for testing. So, if there's massive rogue recruitment agencies in the country, that means [clears throat] that there's no regulation, especially when it comes to the labor laws. It means there's a breach somewhere. There's a loophole somewhere that needs to be sealed either in terms of streamlining it or licensing. Cuz at this point it just looks like even you James you can mushroom out of nowhere, come up with a recruitment agency. So long as you are in cahoots with someone overseas, you export people, they end up being You remember what happened with Kenyans in Myanmar? You know, they ended up being trained to be scammers. Others who even uh now stories of body parts, that's still human trafficking. >> Yeah. Yeah, exactly. >> And the saddest part is the professionally go through the screening process, even the medical process, even at JKIA. >> Mhm. >> And they successfully end up in those places without trace >> Mhm. >> or without even clear identification of their destination. >> Mhm. >> So, that just shows there's loopholes that need to be sealed in terms of uh employment right in our country, labor, >> Mhm. >> and then uh some of our leaders, too. But, also Kenyans, you're being advised, especially if you're a young person, to find out more. >> Don't rush into >> this. >> Yeah. >> If they're announcing a job like James, you've said if a deal is too good, think twice. >> Mhm. >> Try to research through the embassy >> Mhm. [clears throat] >> uh of that country >> Mhm. >> if that country too. >> yeah. >> Uh there's even somebody who was saying if you're landing in a new country, please ensure that you let know of of the uh the ambassador >> Yeah. >> of this country in that country. If you'll be there for a month, if you'll be there for a year, like let them know you've just jetted into this country. I think most Kenyans in the US and the UK, they do that. They try to let you know, the ambassadors know. >> No, yeah. Just for the security. >> Yes, I've landed in the US and I'm living in this state. >> Mhm. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think that also helps. >> Yeah. >> But, when you look at a place like Russia and Ukraine, they don't even speak English. >> Yeah, that's a just a war zone. >> you know, hotbed of a war a war zone, >> Yeah. >> so the only thing you can do is just submit. But, yeah, I think the leakage starts with what we're doing right here with our system. >> Yeah, cuz I believe that everybody knows about Ukraine and also knows about Russia. So, when you hear about Ukraine and Russia, you of course what comes to your mind is about the war that is going on there. And just like a normal person, you know, that there's no such thing as opportunity in a war zone. Of course, you're going to be recruited to fight in the war. So, I think it's all about the the the responsibility relies more to the individual. And also another thing is uh the recruiters themselves. They are doing this illegally. It's all about the human trafficking. It's just all connected to human trafficking cuz I remember they are selling each recruiter for 100,000 Kenyan shillings. So, when I recruit you, then I sell you to to the to to the people out there in Russia, I'll get 100,000 shillings 100,000 100,000 Kenyan shillings. So, that's why they are doing it cuz at the end of the day it's all about the greed. It's all about the desperation. Desperation and greed comes goes hand to hand. So, I'm the recruiters are greedy to to get the people to Russia because they want the pay. Then the the recruitees are also uh desperate for for this opportunity. So, uh it's all about now even taking responsibility. Just know there's nothing called uh such as a good deal. If you've not worked for it really, it it doesn't come to you that easily. So, whenever the deal is too good, I'll just repeat again, just think twice. >> Yeah, absolutely. And please do your research. I think so that we're so gullible. >> Yeah. >> Don't be easily fooled. Uh when it's so striking on a what's it called? >> Your deal. >> Yeah. But in English is all that glitters is not >> gold. Yeah, exactly. Cuz there's no need >> Right? >> Yeah. >> Right.