A Kenyan man who travelled to Russia after being promised a well-paying driving job has narrated how he ended up caught in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Dancan Chege, a returnee and survivor, said he travelled to Russia expecting to work as a driver after being promised a monthly salary of about Ksh330,000.
Instead, he said his situation changed dramatically after arriving in the country, eventually leaving him trapped in circumstances connected to the ongoing war.
Chege is among Kenyans whose experiences have renewed concerns over reports of citizens travelling to Russia after being offered lucrative employment opportunities, only to later find themselves in military camps.
He said the reality he encountered was very different from what he had expected when he left Kenya in search of better employment opportunities.
His account comes as families across Kenya continue seeking information about relatives who travelled to Russia and later became difficult to trace.
Some families have reported losing contact with their loved ones, while others are still trying to establish whether relatives are alive, missing or have been caught up in the conflict.
The growing number of such cases has increased calls for government intervention to establish the whereabouts of Kenyans believed to have travelled to Russia under employment arrangements.
Chege’s experience has also highlighted the risks faced by job seekers who travel abroad after receiving promises of attractive salaries without fully understanding the nature of the work they will eventually be required to perform.
Kenyan families are now calling for stronger efforts to verify overseas employment opportunities and protect citizens from being placed in dangerous situations.
The government has previously warned Kenyans to exercise caution when considering employment opportunities abroad and to verify the legitimacy of recruitment arrangements before travelling.
Chege’s story has added to the growing number of accounts from Kenyans who say their expectations of finding employment in Russia changed dramatically after they arrived in the country.
The families affected are now hoping for greater government assistance in tracing missing Kenyans and helping those who may still be trapped in the conflict zone.