Larry Madowo shares message of Kenyan begging to join Russian army despite recent killings
By Charles Ouma, February 13, 2026Renowned journalist Larry Madowo has shared his exchange with a Kenyan seeking to fight for Russia in its ongoing war with Ukraine.
In a post on X on Friday, February 13, 2026, Larry revealed that the young man reached out requesting his help in getting his message out there that he needs connections on how to join the Russian army.
“Hello mkuu, I am Dante from Thika. Please post this for me, I need those connections za kua Russian army. I don’t give a damn about whatever will happen there,” Reads the message from the young man as shared by Madowo.
What Madowo told the young Kenyan
The journalist sought to know if the young man was sure about his plans in light of the dangers that being on the frontline comes with, and in the wake of recent reports of nationals of several African countries, including Kenya, losing their lives in the war.
@LarryMadowo
“Are you sure about that?” Madowo asked, with the young man responding: “Yeah, very sure,” confirming his stand.
The CNN journalist, who appeared surprised by the decision, shared a screenshot of their exchange and sought to know what his followers would tell the young man.
“He knows the dangers of the Russian army but still wants to join. What do you tell him?” Madowo stated.
Kenya plans to confront Russia
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi recently addressed the worrying trend of Kenyans joining the Russian army and dying on the frontline, calling it “unacceptable and clandestine”.
In an interview with the BBC, Mudavadi said that the Kenyan government has shut down illegal recruiters and would urge Moscow to sign a deal banning the conscription of Kenyan soldiers.
“Kenya and Russia have had long relations since independence, literally. So this, in my view, becomes a very unfortunate episode of otherwise very positive and cordial relations between our two countries,” he stated.
Mudavadi is set to visit Russia in March 2026, with the illegal recruitment of Kenyans to fight in Ukraine being part of the issues to be discussed.
A new investigative report dubbed The Business of Despair, published by INPACT on Friday, February 13, 2026, revealed that at least 10 Kenyans have died in the frontline fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
The report documents at least 316 Africans killed, a figure the authors warn is not exhaustive.