"Festus Omwamba is accused of sending 22 Kenyan youths to Russia for exploitation by means of deception as the director of a recruitment agency. The victims were rescued in an operation from an apartment complex in Athi River, a town in Machakos County, last September, before they could leave the country."
"The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said Omwamba was believed to be a key player in a more extensive human trafficking syndicate that exploits vulnerable individuals by promising them legitimate employment opportunities in European countries."
"More than 1,000 Kenyans have joined the Russian army in recent months, according to a National Intelligence Service (NIS) report released last week. In many cases, they were promised jobs in Russia before being forced to sign army contracts and sent to fight in Ukraine."
Festus Omwamba, a Kenyan recruitment agency director, has been charged with human trafficking for allegedly deceiving 22 Kenyan youths into joining the Russian army for the Ukraine conflict. Twenty-two victims were rescued from an apartment in Athi River before departure, while three others who left Kenya were injured on the front lines. Omwamba pleaded not guilty, with his lawyer claiming insufficient evidence. Authorities believe he operates within a larger trafficking syndicate exploiting vulnerable people with false European employment promises. Over 1,000 Kenyans have reportedly joined the Russian army recently, many deceived about actual military deployment. The case has generated significant public and international attention due to casualties.
#human-trafficking #kenya-russia-military-recruitment #ukraine-war #criminal-justice #employment-fraud
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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