Kenya Probes Reports of Citizens Forced to Fight in Russia’s War After Athlete’s Capture in Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers in the Kharkiv region, where Kenyan national Evans Kibet was reportedly captured near Vovchansk. (Photo: Courtesy / Ukrainian Armed Forces)
When I first read that a Kenyan athlete had been captured in Ukraine’s war, I had to stop and reread the headline. How does a man who once trained for races in the Rift Valley end up hiding in a forest near Vovchansk, caught between two of the world’s most powerful armies?
That man is Evans Kibet, 36, a former track and field runner who, according to reports, was captured by Ukraine’s 57th Motorized Infantry Brigade. His story has now sparked an investigation by the Kenyan government, after he allegedly claimed that he — and a few other Kenyans — had been forced or tricked into serving in the Russian military.
Korir Sing’Oei, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, confirmed that officials are working with their embassy in Moscow and Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to verify the reports. They’re “closely monitoring information regarding three or four Kenyans” reportedly caught up in the war.
But beyond the official statements lies a heartbreaking reality. How does a Kenyan athlete end up in a foreign war he never chose?
Some reports suggest that young Africans in countries like Russia are being lured by false promises of work or study, only to find themselves coerced into military service. It’s a sobering reminder of how global inequality and desperation can intersect in the most tragic ways.
Kibet’s story isn’t just about war — it’s about what happens when opportunity runs dry at home. It’s about how far people will go for a chance at a better life, even if it takes them straight into danger.
As a Kenyan, I can only hope our government acts quickly — not just to bring our citizens home, but to make sure no one else ends up fighting a war that isn’t theirs.
