A Kenyan man has narrated how he was illegally deployed to fight for Russia in its war against Russia despite lacking military skills.
Duncan Chege from Kiambu County revealed he left Kenya after he successfully secured a Driver job in Moscow through a local recruitment agent.
In a TikTok video, Chege revealed he was selected alongside 10 other Kenyans for the driving jobs.
Things, however, changed unexpectedly when they arrived in Moscow in November 2025. Chege claimed that instead of being placed in a driving job, the group was taken to a military camp and pressured to sign contracts to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
“I knew I was going to be a driver, but when we reached Moscow, things changed. We were taken into the camp and made to sign contracts to fight for Russia,” he claimed.
The group, which consisted of 11 Kenyans were subjected into a one-month intense military training before being released to the battlefield. The training covered the use of military equipment, including weapons, tanks, drones, and other equipment.
“The training itself was torture. It was like they wanted to kill us,” he alleged.
In December 2025, just one month after leaving Kenya, Chege claimed he was deployed to the frontlines. He was promised to be paid Sh3 million for the work but he claimed he never received anything.
Within a week of entering Ukrainian territory, he claimed that all 10 of his fellow Kenyans were killed in action.
“We were 11 when we left for Russia. When we were taken to Ukraine, all my comrades from Kenya were killed. I’m the only one who survived,” he told reporters.
After witnessing what had happened, Chege began planning his escape by pretending to be mentally challenged. He claimed that he deliberately opened fire aimlessly while screaming until his commanding officer sent him to a military hospital for evaluation.
After three days in the facility, Chege claimed he fabricated a story that his family had been killed in an accident and sought the doctor’s help to leave the hospital.
After the release, he said he switched to Kiswahili and sought help through Kenya’s embassy contacts, who then arranged his travel back home.
Chege said he arrived in Kenya on January 16, 2026, and has since been in disbelief after surviving the traumatic ordeal.
“Mambo ilikuwa ngumu sana. I saw over 30,000 dead bodies, including those of Kenyans and other Africans. I thank God I’m back. But what I saw has left an imprint in my mind. I can’t even sleep at night, kichwa ni mzito,” he said.
“Nashukuru Mungu. Nilipitia njia refu sana ndio niweze kurudi home. Russians ni military commanders hawawezi kukubalisha urudi home. But sio mimi nashukuru Mola tu.”
He cautioned other Kenyans against falling for overseas recruitment schemes he believes are deceptive.
“I have firsthand experience, and I can tell you it’s a death trap. Don’t think about joining the Russian military. That is my advice. Connections za kuenda Russia, siwezi peana. Siwezi kuadvice ujaribu kuenda,” Chege said.
According to the Ministry of Foreign affairs, some 200 Kenyans have been recruited to fight for Russia through illegitimate networks.
The government now says several recruitment agencies are under investigation, and some licences have already been suspended.
“Some agencies lure young people with promises of large payments. The government is tracking those agencies linked to this fraud,” Sylvanus Osoro, Kenya’s parliamentary majority chief whip, told the BBC.
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