Kenya Amnesty for Returning Fighters in Russia

0:00It's March 22nd. You're listening to Global News today, AI-powered coverage from around the world. I'm Cory with the story. Kenyans foreign minister announced that citizens who fought for Russia and Ukraine will get amnesty when they return home. This comes after his recent trip to Moscow, where officials agreed to stop recruiting anymore Kenyans. Many were tricked with offers of good paying civilian jobs, but ended up forced into combat after signing contracts they didn't understand. Being foreign armies is illegal in Kenya, with penalties up to a 10-year prison term. Relatives of those sent to Russia wrapped up pressure on the government to act. Last month, authorities shut down more than 600 suspicious recruitment agencies promising overseas work. So far, 44 Kenyans have made it back safely, while 11 are missing or confirmed killed. 38 are hospitalized in Russia with limited access, and about 160 remain on active duty. People secured a deal to release those unwilling to fight and send them home.

1:00Now, both nations plan to crack down on human trafficking and illegal recruitment, putting Kenya on Russia's stop list to prevent more cases.