- Denis Mokaya Mongare, a Kenyan national, says he was deceived into travelling to Russia for work but ended up fighting near the Ukraine front line
- Speaking from a hospital in Belgorod Oblast after surviving a drone attack, he claims several Kenyans remain trapped in the conflict
- He is now appealing to the Kenyan government to intervene and secure his rescue so he can return to his family
A Kenyan man recovering in a Russian hospital has issued an emotional appeal for help, claiming he was deceived into travelling abroad for a cleaning job only to find himself caught in the war in Ukraine.
Source: UGC
Denis Mokaya Mongare says he left Kenya in November last year after being connected to a recruitment agent identified as Maria, who allegedly promised him employment in Russia.
Mongare’s journey to Russia
Instead, he claims his journey led him through South Africa and Dubai before he eventually arrived in Moscow and later Belarus, a route he now believes was part of a wider scheme.
Speaking from a hospital bed in Stary Oskol in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, Mongare says the situation quickly changed the moment he landed.
According to a report by Producer Kevin, their passports were confiscated at the airport upon arrival.
He claims that he and other Kenyans, identified as Francis Waithera, Enock Mboi and Thadeus Kamau, were then transported for hours to an undisclosed location.
How Mongare ended up in war
Mongare says members of the group were forced to sign documents written in Russian, papers they could not read or understand.
“We didn’t know what we were signing,” he reportedly said. “We were confused and scared.”
He alleges that after signing the documents, they were taken to a military camp where they underwent roughly a week of training.
Soon afterwards, the group was moved again, this time to a camp closer to the Ukrainian border, where their personal belongings were burned before they were deployed to the battlefield.
Source: Facebook
When did Mongare survive drone strike?
Life at the front line, he says, was brutal. Mongare described freezing temperatures, extremely limited food supplies and constant attacks as soldiers tried to survive day by day in harsh conditions.
His ordeal took a dramatic turn on February 5 when he survived a drone strike that left him injured. He is now receiving treatment at a hospital in Stary Oskol, a city in Russia’s Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border.
From his hospital bed, Mongare has made a public appeal to the Kenyan government to intervene and help secure his rescue.
He also warned that several other Kenyans remain trapped in the conflict, claiming that some have already died while fighting.
How many Kenyans trapped in Russia?
His story adds to growing concerns about vulnerable job seekers who may be lured abroad with promises of work, only to find themselves in dangerous or exploitative situations.
A recent intelligence report revealed that over 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, most of whom were former military and police personnel.
The report highlighted collusion between recruitment agencies, government staff, and embassies, adding that many recruits are lured with high pay but sent to the front line after minimal training.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
