'My life is in danger': Russia jobs recruitment suspect tells court

A person without a keen ear might have ignored a passing remark by prosecutor Kennedy Amwayi that a man accused of trafficking Kenyans to Russia had allegedly contacted the investigator before surrendering.

However, the comment — which prompted Festus Arasa Omwamba’s lawyer, Bonventure Otieno, to rise and object to the production of the conversation between the suspect and the investigator — introduced a new twist to the alleged Russia military recruitment saga.

This arose during the morning court session.

It was the first time Russia had been directly mentioned in open court in connection with the alleged recruitment syndicate.

Omwamba was brought before the Kahawa Law Courts to take a plea on charges of allegedly trafficking at least 25 Kenyans to Russia, three of whom reportedly returned home injured from the Ukraine war.

However, just before the plea could be taken, Otieno argued that the exercise should be deferred until March 27, 2026, when the High Court is scheduled to mention a case in which Omwamba had allegedly been granted anticipatory bail of Sh100,000.

His lawyer maintained that he should be released.

Amwayi told Kahawa magistrate Gideon Kiage that he had not seen the application or the orders Otieno was referring to.

He argued that the proceedings should continue, as the issue at hand concerned Omwamba answering to the charges, not bail.

Otieno again rose, stating that he had been served with an affidavit indicating that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) would oppose Omwamba’s release.

It was then that Amwayi informed the court of an alleged conversation between Omwamba and the investigating officer, in which he purportedly claimed that Russians were pursuing him and that this had prompted his surrender.

Otieno objected to the production of the document as evidence.

The prosecutor further submitted that the application before the High Court was intended to scuttle the plea-taking process, adding that the State had not been served with it. After a spirited exchange, Kiage ruled in the afternoon that Omwamba should take a plea. He held that the orders issued on June 23, 2025, and extracted on February 4, 2026, only shielded him from arrest during investigations and did not bar plea-taking.

“The order of the High Court provides that the accused person should not be arrested in the intervening period in the investigations alluded to. They were intended to shield the accused during the pendency of the application and were not to operate as a bar from prosecution.

“It is clear that the applicant was at liberty to appear in court for purposes of plea-taking. The orders do not bar the reading of charges to the accused person,” ruled Kiage.

Omwamba, 33, is accused of deceiving at least 25 Kenyans into travelling to Russia for exploitation.

“On diverse dates between December 1, 2024 and September 24, 2025 at Great Wall Gardens in Athi River area, Mavoko Sub-County within Machakos County, jointly with another not before court, trafficked by recruiting twenty-five (25) Kenyan nationals (names as per the attached list) to Russia for the purpose of exploitation by means of deception,” the charge sheet reads in part. He denied the charges.

The prosecution opposed his release on bail or bond.

Amwayi told the court that Omwamba had been on the police radar since last year but surrendered at Moyale Police Station on Wednesday night. He was later handed over to the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) based at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on Kiambu Road.

The court heard that some of the alleged victims remain in Russia and cannot be accounted for.

Court documents seen by this newspaper indicate that Omwamba, said to be the proprietor of Global Human Resource Limited, was aware as early as April last year that he was likely to be arrested.

In an application filed before the High Court in September last year, Omwamba claimed that police were pursuing him for unknown reasons and alleged harassment.

“I have done no wrong in law and am willing to co-operate with the police in any investigation they may seek to carry out in relation to the company,” he said.

He disclosed that his company was involved in exporting labour abroad.

In the afternoon session, Amwayi stated that a warrant of arrest had been issued against Omwamba and alleged that he had informed investigators that Russian mercenaries were pursuing him.

“The accused has alleged threats to his life. For his own safety, he should be placed in custody. He reached out to the investigating officer, expressing fear after receiving threats from Russian mercenaries. Being in custody is for his own protection. His place of abode has not been established,” Amwayi argued.

He further stated that Edward Gituku Kamau, who was also charged with trafficking Kenyans to Russia, is an employee of Omwamba.

Gituku was arrested after detectives raided a house where 25 men were allegedly preparing to travel to Russia.

He denied the charges and was released on bail.

During earlier proceedings seeking to detain Gituku, the investigating officer alleged that a monthly salary of Sh250,000 had been promised to entice the recruits.

Police said that two Kenyans had since returned from Russia, one of whom is admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital.

Earlier, Otieno had urged the court not to proceed with plea-taking until March 27, 2026, when the High Court matter is scheduled for mention.

“As long as there are orders, this court should not proceed with the plea-taking. Unless he is allowed to write a statement, his side of the story has not been told. There is no way the court will take plea,” Otieno argued.

He asked the court to question the investigating officer regarding the claims in her affidavit.

The magistrate directed that Omwamba be detained at Muthaiga Police Station to allow the investigator time to prepare.

The case continues today.