Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto and Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua of misleading young Kenyans into travelling to Russia under the guise of employment, only for them to allegedly end up in active war zones.
Speaking on Saturday during a dowry ceremony in Nyeri County, Gachagua claimed that Kenyan youths were promised jobs in Russian factories, particularly as drivers, but were instead forced into combat upon arrival. He said those affected were neither trained for warfare nor adequately prepared for the harsh and dangerous conditions they reportedly faced.
“We are feeling pain because Ruto lied to our children by promising them jobs,” Gachagua said. “They were told they were going to work in factories and drive vehicles, but when they reached Russia, they were told to go to war.”
The former deputy president painted a grim picture of the alleged situation, claiming Kenyans were being exposed to extreme danger, including freezing weather, bombs, and gunfire, leading to deaths far from home. He added that in some cases, the bodies of those who die never make it back to Kenya, leaving families without closure.
“Our children are dying because of cold weather, bombs, and bullets,” he stated. “Some come back as corpses. Others never come back at all, and families are forced to conduct mock burials.”
Gachagua called on the government to take immediate responsibility and facilitate the return of all Kenyans he said were misled into travelling abroad under false pretences. He argued that it was better for young people to endure economic hardship at home with their families than to die in foreign conflicts.
“They should be brought back alive,” he said, “and suffer here with their parents, rather than return in coffins.”
His remarks are likely to intensify political pressure on the government over labour migration programmes and the safety of Kenyans seeking opportunities abroad, especially in countries facing conflict or instability.