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Ichung’wah Reveals Human Trafficking Network Sending Kenyans to Russia–Ukraine War

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National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has lifted the lid on what he termed a deeply disturbing network of rogue state officials allegedly colluding with human trafficking syndicates to recruit and transport Kenyans to fight in the Russia–Ukraine war.

Addressing the House, the Kikuyu MP disclosed that a joint investigation by the National Intelligence Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had uncovered collusion involving officers drawn from immigration, security agencies and even Kenya’s foreign missions.

“There has been collusion between officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Directorate of Immigration Services and the National Employment Authority,” Ichung’wah told MPs.

Ichung’wah told the House that more than 1,000 Kenyans have reportedly been recruited and trafficked to Russia since the war with Ukraine began, many lured by promises of lucrative salaries, hefty bonuses and foreign citizenship.

According to the investigation, rogue recruitment agencies have targeted former military and police officers as well as unemployed civilians aged between their mid-20s and 50s. Recruits are allegedly promised monthly pay of up to Sh350,000 and bonuses ranging from Sh900,000 to Sh1.2 million.

However, upon arrival, many reportedly find themselves deployed to front-line combat roles after minimal military training.

“They are told you are going to work as a guard… only to get there and you are taken to military camps,” Ichung’wah said.
“You’ve only trained for three weeks. They are basically just giving you a gun to go and die.”

He directed the ministries concerned to identify the officers involved and ensure swift accountability warning that those implicated would face the full force of the law.

“Government offices are not to be used for criminal activities,” he said.

The Majority Leader singled out Kenya’s embassy in Moscow, demanding internal accountability.

“Our ambassador in Moscow must be able to identify the officers within the embassy that may have colluded with these criminals. Our embassy must be beyond reproach. It must be the place where Kenyans can seek refuge, not exploitation,” he said.

Casualties and Missing Persons

The House was told that the human cost of the scheme is mounting. As of February 2026, 39 Kenyans are hospitalised, 30 have been repatriated, 28 are missing in action, 89 remain on the front line, one is detained, and another has completed his contract.

At least one Kenyan has died, while several others have returned home injured or traumatised.

Initially, recruits are said to have departed through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport using tourist visas, transiting through Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

But with increased surveillance at JKIA, traffickers allegedly shifted tactics, routing victims through South Africa, Uganda and other neighbouring countries to evade detection.

“When JKIA is closely monitored, you hear now they have moved through South Africa, Uganda and other neighbouring countries,” Ichung’wah said.

Immediate Crackdown

The revelations drew sharp reactions from lawmakers across the aisle who urged the NIS and DCI to act with speed against rogue agencies.

Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap described the matter as chilling, warning that Kenya’s vulnerability to trafficking networks had reached alarming levels.

“I am extremely shocked by the manner in which Kenyans can be taken to Moscow to fight another sovereign country, Ukraine. This is a chilling matter,” he said

Taita Taveta Woman Representative Lydia Haika called for a coordinated, whole-of-government response, noting that complaints about exploitative recruitment agencies frequently reach parliamentary committees.

“The problem of rogue agencies that continue to exploit Kenyans persists daily. This is one of the most serious cases, but there are many more Kenyans suffering out there,” she said.

The disclosures are likely to intensify scrutiny of Kenya’s labour migration oversight framework and the integrity of public offices tasked with safeguarding citizens.

Ichung’wah insisted that the crackdown would not spare any official, regardless of rank.

“This House must send a clear message  no public officer will be allowed to aid criminal syndicates that trade in the lives of our people,” he said-Capitalfm.co.ke

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National Assembly dismisses claims Sacco Bill is being rushed through Parliament

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The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.

Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.

Bill was published in June 2025

The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.

It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.

According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.

Bill currently before the National Assembly committee

The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.

What happens after public participation?

After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.

Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.

The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.

This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.

Bill will be forwarded to Senate

The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.

Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.

The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.

Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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Digital house-hunting platform bets on technology to reshape Nairobi’s rental market

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NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.

This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.

As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.

“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.

Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.

Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.

Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.

The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.

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ORPP edges two parties closer to joining Kenya’s political arena

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.

In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.

The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.

According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.

The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.

The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.

The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.

Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.

The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.

Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.

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