Russian President Vladimir Putin and President William Ruto at the Kremlin in Moscow following the conclusion of the Russia-Africa Summit/PCS

President William Ruto says Russia has agreed to stop enlisting Kenyans into its military, as the government moves to facilitate the return of nationals who travelled to the country for military purposes.

Ruto said Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the commitment during talks at the Kremlin in Moscow following the conclusion of the Russia-Africa Summit.

He said Kenya had been categorised as a non-source country for recruitment into the Russian military, in a move aimed at stopping further enlistment of Kenyans.

"Thanked President Putin for confirming that Kenyans will no longer be enlisted into the Russian military because Kenya has been categorised as a non-source country for recruitment into the Russian military, the President said.

Ruto also announced the appointment of a defence attaché at the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow to coordinate the return of Kenyans who went to Russia for military purposes.

The official will liaise with Russia’s Ministry of Defence to process their return and compensation, as well as assist them to get home safely.

“Additionally, the Defence Attaché will work with the Russian Ministry of Defence to process compensation for Kenyans and to assist in their safe return home,” Ruto said.

The announcement comes amid growing concern over Kenyans caught up in Russia’s war against Ukraine, with the government facing pressure to establish the whereabouts of nationals who travelled to Russia and became involved in military operations.

On October 9, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told Senate committees that the government had recorded 354 Kenyan nationals connected to the conflict. The figure included those on the front lines, people reported killed or missing, those hospitalised and those who had returned home.

Mudavadi said 62 Kenyans had been repatriated at the time. He also told lawmakers that Kenya had secured its inclusion on a Russian stop list intended to prevent further enlistment of its nationals. The Kenyan Embassy in Moscow had reported no additional enlistments since the measure took effect.

The latest announcement follows an agreement announced by Mudavadi in March 2026 after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. At the time, Mudavadi said Kenyans would no longer be enlisted through Russia’s Ministry of Defence.

Ruto’s latest statement also outlines plans to expand cooperation between the two countries in education, employment and other sectors.

The President said the two leaders discussed increasing the number of scholarships available to Kenyan students from the current 70 to 300.

The proposed scholarships would cover fields including health, artificial intelligence, technology, aviation and cyber security.

Ruto also said Putin had committed to supporting the expansion of the United Nations Office in Nairobi, which he described as the only UN headquarters in the developing world.

The two leaders further agreed that their governments would negotiate a bilateral labour agreement to allow Kenyans to live and work in Russia.

“I invited President Putin to visit Kenya,” Ruto said, citing the deepening ties between the two countries.

During the Russia-Africa Summit, Kenya and Russia signed five instruments intended to strengthen bilateral relations.

They include the establishment of the Intergovernmental Russia-Kenya Commission on Economic Cooperation and cooperation in labour inspection and employment promotion.

Other agreements cover cooperation between the two countries’ transport ministries, visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and service passports, and collaboration in diplomatic training.