Painful Moment as Family of Kenyan Man Killed in Russia War, Buries an Empty Coffin in Nyeri

A grieving family in Mukurweini, Nyeri County, has held a symbolic burial ceremony for their son who died while fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine, even as his body remains unrecovered on the battlefield months after his death.

The deceased, identified as Charles Wangari, is believed to have been killed on Christmas Day while deployed to the frontlines in eastern Ukraine. 

With no access to his remains and little clarity about the exact circumstances of his death, relatives gathered around his portrait and an empty coffin to perform final rites, marking a painful farewell to a life lost far from home.

Wangari, a former semi-professional footballer from Laikipia West, had reportedly left Kenya in search of economic opportunity, hoping to transit through Europe and eventually settle in Sweden. 

Like many young Kenyans facing unemployment and rising living costs, he was drawn by promises of well-paying work abroad. Those hopes, however, ended in tragedy when he found himself recruited into a foreign conflict.

According to officials and civil society groups monitoring the trend, hundreds of Kenyans have been lured to Russia since 2022 through deceptive recruitment networks operating in Nairobi and other towns. 

The agents allegedly advertise civilian jobs such as security work, logistics support, driving, and warehouse roles, only for recruits to discover upon arrival that they are being absorbed into military units.

Survivors of the scheme have recounted harrowing experiences, saying their travel documents and mobile phones were confiscated, leaving them isolated and unable to seek help. 

Many claim they were coerced into signing contracts written in a language they did not understand, effectively trapping them in combat zones. Promises of high monthly pay and benefits quickly gave way to dangerous deployments with minimal training.

Human rights organisations report that dozens of Kenyans have either been killed, gone missing, or captured during fighting in Ukraine. 

Some families say they have received little or no official communication from Russian authorities, and that compensation policies remain unclear, leaving them without closure or support. 

The emotional toll has been compounded by the inability to retrieve bodies from active war zones, forcing families to conduct memorial services without remains.

Kenyan authorities have acknowledged the growing crisis and warned citizens against accepting overseas job offers arranged through unverified agents, especially those tied to tourist visas. 

Multi-agency teams have recently carried out raids in parts of Nairobi, rescuing young people believed to be on the verge of being trafficked for military deployment and arresting suspected recruiters.

Diplomatic efforts are also underway to trace Kenyans who may be trapped in conflict areas and to facilitate the repatriation of those who have been detained or captured. 

Officials say engagements with foreign governments are aimed at securing the release of citizens and dismantling the networks responsible for the recruitment.