The Senate has issued fresh summons requiring Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor to appear before committees investigating the recruitment of Kenyans into the Russian military on September 29.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The summons comes after the three officials failed to attend a joint hearing held by the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare and the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations on Tuesday, September 15, forcing the legislators to adjourn the meeting.

To account for their absence, Mudavadi and Mutua cited a Cabinet meeting in Kisumu, while the Attorney-General’s office said Oduor was out of town.

“The hearing was postponed to 29 September 2026 to ensure the relevant CSs and AG are present to respond to the petitioners and answer questions over the recruitment of Kenyans into foreign military service, the agencies involved and the steps being taken to secure the release and safe return of those affected,” read a statement issued after the halted meeting.

📌 What You Need to Know

The committees had been scheduled to hear from relatives of Kenyans who travelled to Russia, with seven representatives attending on behalf of more than 800 affected families.

At the same time, the officials were expected to respond to questions on the recruitment of Kenyans into foreign military service and the government measures being taken to assist those affected.

Among those present was Bibiana Wangari, whose son died after travelling to Russia, while Winnie Rose Wainaina said her brother Samuel Wainaina has been missing since late October 2025.

Other families reported relatives who are missing, being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine or deployed to combat areas.

Information presented to the Senate committees indicated that more than 1,000 Kenyans may have been recruited into foreign military service, while a separate operation at Great Wall Gardens in Athi River reportedly found 22 people being processed to travel to Russia.

The Senate also heard claims that recruiters offered salaries of about Ksh350,000 a month, bonuses of up to Ksh1.2 million and promises of Russian citizenship to attract recruits.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke