A family is expressing profound distress and seeking urgent assistance regarding the welfare and whereabouts of their brother, Mr. Oscar Khagola Mutoka, a Kenyan national holding passport number AK0054866, who is believed to be missing in the Russian Federation after being recruited into the Russian military forces, with all communication abruptly severed and no confirmed information on his current status or location, leaving the family in a state of immense anxiety and uncertainty as they scramble to obtain clarity regarding his fate.
According to information provided by family records, Mr. Mutoka departed Kenya on the 25th of June 2025, with his initial destination listed as Rostov-on-Don, traveling on his Kenyan passport and under arrangements facilitated by an individual identified as Mr. Festus Omwambia, associated with the Global Face Human Resource Agency, previously domiciled at Chai House, Koinange Street, 7th Floor, and who had reportedly promised employment opportunities with lucrative pay within the Russian military structure, a proposition that persuaded Mr. Mutoka and resulted in the payment of an amount approximating Ksh 10,000 as a facilitation fee.
The family has indicated that their last contact with Mr. Mutoka occurred on the day of his departure, specifically at 12:48 pm Kenyan time, after which all attempts to reach him have been unsuccessful, and they have no verified information regarding the unit he was assigned to, although records suggest that his last known affiliation was with a contingent referred to as the “African Wagner Group,” a detail that has heightened concerns about the precarious nature of his deployment and the risks he may be facing given the operational environment and geopolitical context.
The circumstances surrounding his recruitment, travel, and subsequent disappearance have prompted the family to urgently appeal to authorities and relevant organizations for immediate intervention, underscoring the gravity of a situation in which a Kenyan citizen, far from his homeland, may be involved in foreign military operations without sufficient oversight or protection, and highlighting the need for prompt verification, support, and repatriation measures in order to prevent potential harm and to provide the family with long-sought answers regarding the safety and condition of their loved one.
The ongoing uncertainty has placed an extraordinary emotional burden on the family, who are grappling with fear, anxiety, and distress, and has also raised questions regarding the channels through which Kenyan nationals are recruited into foreign military operations, the responsibilities of recruitment agents, and the mechanisms available to the government and international organizations to account for and protect citizens engaged in such activities far from home, while the clock continues to tick with no definitive information on Mr. Mutoka’s current circumstances or location.
Authorities and humanitarian bodies are being called upon to investigate the circumstances surrounding his recruitment, to verify his presence and status within any foreign military structures, to liaise with relevant Russian counterparts, and to take any measures necessary to safeguard the life and rights of Mr. Mutoka, whose disappearance represents not only a deeply personal crisis for his family but also a matter of national concern, emphasizing the potential vulnerabilities faced by citizens engaged in foreign military engagements facilitated by private intermediaries whose practices may lack transparency and accountability.
The family continues to hold onto hope that Mr. Mutoka will be located safely and that all necessary measures will be implemented to ensure his return, while simultaneously advocating for stricter oversight, clearer guidance, and protective frameworks to prevent similar occurrences in the future, noting that this tragic uncertainty has reverberated through their community and has prompted broader reflection on the responsibilities of recruitment agents, the vigilance of authorities, and the potential consequences for citizens drawn into high-risk foreign military service without adequate safeguards or government support.
“Hi Nyakundi. I am writing to you with profound distress and urgency on behalf of our family regarding the welfare and whereabouts of my brother Mr Oscar Khagola Mutoka a Kenyan national holding passport number AK0054866. It is with great concern that we inform you that our brother was recruited into the Russian military forces and is now feared to be Missing in Action MIA. We have lost all communication with him and his current status and location are unknown causing our family immense anguish. The following detailed information was gathered from our family records. He left Kenya for Russia on 25th June 2025 with his initial destination being Rostov-on-Don. He travelled using his Kenyan passport. His recruitment and travel were facilitated by an agent one Mr Festus Omwambia 254703627362 of Global Face Human Resource Agency domiciled then at Chai House Koinange Street 7th Floor with promises related to lucrative employment with good pay. We understand that a small fee was paid to facilitate this process. Based on our family’s records he paid an amount of approximately KSh 10000 to the agent and his last known unit is the African Wagner Group. The last communication was on 25th June at 12 48 pm Kenyan time.”
