Family Seeks Answers After Kenyan Dies Fighting for Russia

• Feb 02, 2026

A Kenyan family is seeking answers after their relative was killed in Ukraine while fighting on Russia’s side.

The family of Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, 29, is appealing for help and clarity following his death in eastern Ukraine, where he had been involved in the ongoing war. Mogesa had initially left Kenya in 2024 after his family sold land to raise money for his travel to Qatar, where he was hoping to secure employment. According to relatives, they later discovered that he had travelled on to Russia, a move that shocked them and raised unanswered questions about how he became involved in the conflict.

On Saturday, Ukrainian authorities reported that Mogesa was killed in Donetsk during what they described as a “meat assault,” a type of attack associated with very high casualty numbers. Ukrainian officials said Mogesa had been recruited while in Qatar and claimed that Russian forces did not evacuate his body after the incident. They also said he was found carrying the passports of two other Kenyans, further raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding his recruitment and deployment.

Mogesa’s death has deeply affected his family, who described him as their main source of support. Speaking to Citizen TV, his brother Joel Mogere said the loss had devastated them. He explained that Mogesa was the last-born in the family and had been their breadwinner and greatest hope. His mother, Mellen Moraa, said she depends on medication for diabetes and that her son had been paying for her treatment and caring for her needs. She said she now feels lost and pleaded with the government for assistance.

The case comes amid growing concern over Kenyans being recruited to fight in the Ukraine war. Last month, the Kenyan government said 18 Kenyans who had been fighting in Russia were rescued and brought back home. In November, Kenya’s foreign minister revealed that about 200 Kenyans were known to be fighting for Russia, adding that recruitment networks were still operating.

Similar cases have been reported in other African countries, where young people are lured by promises of well-paying jobs in Russia, only to later find themselves recruited into the military. Ukraine’s intelligence estimates that more than 1,400 Africans from 36 countries have been recruited to fight for Russia.

Ukraine has repeatedly warned that anyone fighting for Russia will be treated as an enemy combatant, stressing that surrender remains the safest way out. Its intelligence agency has also cautioned foreign nationals against travelling to Russia or accepting informal or illegal work, warning of a real risk of being forced into assault units with little training and slim chances of survival.