NAIROBI, Kenya—A prominent Kenyan businessman stands accused of orchestrating a large-scale human trafficking operation that recruited over 1,000 citizens to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. Festus Omwamba, 33, founder of Global Face Human Resources, was formally charged with human trafficking offenses in a Nairobi court on Thursday following his arrest in the border town of Moyale.
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Omwamba allegedly deceived twenty-two Kenyan youths through false promises of employment opportunities in Russia. Instead of receiving civilian positions, victims were coerced into signing military contracts and deployed to combat zones in Ukraine with minimal training.
The case emerged after authorities rescued twenty-two trafficking victims during a police operation last September. Three additional recruits returned to Kenya with combat injuries sustained on the frontlines, providing firsthand accounts of the deceptive recruitment practices.
Kenyan parliamentarian Kimani Ichung’wah revealed last week that intelligence reports confirm more than 1,000 Kenyans have joined Russian military ranks in recent months. Multiple international media investigations have documented how recruits lacking military experience were misled with promises of lucrative civilian jobs only to face forced conscription.
Omwamba entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. His defense attorney, Bonaventure Otieno, characterized the prosecution’s case as baseless speculation built upon hearsay evidence.
The Russian Embassy in Nairobi has denied involvement in the allegations, dismissing reports as ‘dangerous and misleading propaganda.’ Meanwhile, testimony from four returned survivors—including a former athlete and three wounded veterans—consistently identifies Omwamba and his associate Edward Gituku, who faces separate trafficking charges, as central figures in the deceptive recruitment network operated through Global Face Human Resources.