A Kenyan family is appealing for answers and support to repatriate the body of their 29-year-old relative, Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, who was killed in Ukraine while fighting for Russia.
Mogesa had originally left Kenya in 2024 for employment in Qatar, but his family later learned he had travelled to Russia. On Saturday, Ukrainian authorities reported his death during a high-casualty assault in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, describing the incident as a so-called “meat assault.” Ukrainian officials said Russian forces did not evacuate his body and noted that he was carrying the passports of two other Kenyans.
Mogesa’s family expressed shock at the news. Speaking to local Citizen TV, his brother, Joel Mogere, said Mogesa was the last-born, the family breadwinner, and their hope. His mother, Mellen Moraa, who is diabetic, revealed that Mogesa had been supporting her medical needs and said she did not know what to do. “I plead with the government for help,” she added.
Last month, the Kenyan government repatriated 18 citizens who had been fighting for Russia. Last November, the foreign minister reported that around 200 Kenyans were known to be involved in the conflict, with recruitment networks still active.
Other African countries have also documented cases of young people being lured with promises of lucrative jobs in Russia, which then led to military recruitment. Ukraine’s intelligence agency estimates that over 1,400 people from 36 African countries have been recruited to fight for Russia.
Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly warned that anyone fighting for Russia will be treated as an enemy combatant, and that the safest option is to surrender. On Saturday, the agency cautioned foreign nationals against traveling to Russia or accepting informal or illegal employment, highlighting the high risk of forced deployment into combat with minimal training and a low chance of survival.
