After months of searching for ways to earn a better living, they rejoice as they finally pounce on an opportunity - a factory in Russia, where they could earn enough to feed their families back in Kenya. But how many are truly aware of the risks they face, the looming threat of death as they are issued military equipment and thrust into the flames of war? 600 recruitment agencies suspected of duping Kenyans with promises of jobs overseas were closed by Kenyan authorities, with an estimated 200 of its nationals recruited to fight for Russia. The exact number remains unclear, as none of them had travelled through official channels. The number of Kenyans that have perished fighting for a country not their own is increasingly obscure. Relatives who have approached the Russian embassy in Nairobi for answers were unceremoniously turned away. And those that do know of the tragic fate…Read more  →Shockwaves of a Distant War : How Russia’s Illegal Recruitment of Kenyan Soldiers Have Left Families Devastated