Nairobi — A significant revelation emerged on Thursday as a recruitment agency founder was charged with human trafficking. Festus Omwamba, 33, whose Global Face Human Resources firm facilitated the movement of over 1,000 Kenyans to fight for the Russian army, has now faced legal repercussions.
Omwamba’s arrest in Moyale, a border town adjacent to Ethiopia, followed his conviction by the state prosecutor. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) alleged that Omwamba had “recruited twenty-two Kenyan youths to Russia for exploitation through deception,” highlighting instances where 25 people were identified as victims of human trafficking in a September police operation.
In the past month, more than 1,000 Kenyans have been conscripted into the Russian army according to testimony by MP Kimani Ichung’wah at parliament. The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) described Omwamba and his associates as central figures in an extensive human trafficking network that lured unsuspecting individuals with promises of legitimate employment opportunities abroad, only to entrap them in illegal and hazardous conditions.
Recent reports from media outlets including AFP detail the harrowing journey of these recruits. Most had no prior military experience but were promised lucrative civilian jobs such as salesmen, security guards, or athletes in Russia. Upon arrival, they found themselves forced into army service with minimal training, leading to severe injuries and tragic outcomes for some.
Omwamba pleaded not guilty during his court appearance, while his lawyer, Bonaventure Otieno, dismissed the charges as speculative and based on hearsay. “There’s no case,” Otieno asserted. Meanwhile, media interviews have shed light on the experiences of several Kenyans who were part of this recruitment process.
Four individuals—three wounded and two surviving fighters—shared their harrowing tales. One claimed he was told he would be working as a salesman, another as a security guard, and the last as an athlete. All denounced Omwamba’s role in the deception alongside his employee Edward Gituku, who is currently facing human trafficking charges.
Despite initial denials from the Russian embassy in Kenya, which dismissed these accusations as misleading propaganda, several Kenyan victims have come forward to expose their plight. Their stories highlight the devastating impact of misinformation and coercive recruitment tactics employed by Omwamba’s network.
This case underscores the perilous vulnerabilities faced by individuals lured abroad under false promises of employment, shedding light on a complex issue with far-reaching consequences for both victims and national security.