After death in war, kin seek help tracing money in Russian bank
National
By
Phares Mutembei
| Mar 01, 2026
Erick Koome from Kanyekine in Meru who was killed in the Russian war in Ukraine in January. [Phares Mutembei, Standard]
When 31-year-old Erick Koome left Kenya towards the end of last year to join Russian forces in their war in Ukraine, some in his family and friends had thought he was headed for Germany.
As it turned out, Koome flew to Russia from Dubai in November last year and died in January after Ukrainian forces blew up a Russian camp, leaving only two survivors out of 57 fighters.
According to Felicity Mpinda, his mother, Koome, had not told them he was going to fight in the Russian war against Ukraine.
“He was our only child,” she mourned
READ MORE
Why every Kenyan must protect their personal data
Konza inks deal with Moroccan firm to deliver AI certification
AG's office in the spot for hindering KenGen's cheaper power plan
Pesalink, PAPSS deal cuts currency barriers for Kenya cross-border payments
Manyanja Mall: Quickmart, Goodlife and Rubis among anchor tenants of Sh400 million mall
Econetix inaugural CORSIA deal channels carbon finance to Africa
Industry leaders push to accelerate social governance in brokerage
VAT reforms: Why manufacturers want tax cuts
Speaking to The Standard at Kanyakine in South Imenti, Meru, Ms Mpinda said Koome had told them, and his friends, that he had found work in Germany.
But Mpinda had doubts, even as she escorted her son to catch a shuttle in Meru, which first took him to Thika, from where he took a bus to Moyale and onwards to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, from where he was to fly to Europe.
“The last time I saw him was November 28, when I escorted him to catch the shuttle to Thika. On November 29 in the morning, he left Moyale for Addis Ababa. He had said he was going to Germany, but I had heard reports about Russia, so I asked him (on the phone) if he was really going to Germany. He admitted it was Russia,” she recollected.
Koome’s wife, Damaris Kendi, a mother of a six-year-old, was distraught as she mourned the loss.
Ms Kendi said Koome had been working in Doha, Qatar, for four years for a transport company before the Russian ‘job opportunity’ came around in September.
Previously, he had worked in Mombasa as a mechanic.
“He came back in November to plan his journey to Russia. There was someone who was facilitating communication between him and someone in Russia, who in turn organised his travel to Russia,” Kendi revealed.
“The last time I spoke to him was December 31. He was in Russia. He had said he was working as a mechanic.”
As it turned out, the truth of what he was doing only came to light after Ukrainian forces bombed a Russian camp in Ukraine on January 13.
“After December 31, he never communicated again, and we tried reaching him in vain,” she said.
It was only after a Ghanaian traced Koome’s family through Tiktok they learned Koome had been killed in the war.
“The Ghanaian told us he had been a friend of Koome. He told us they had been taken for military training for a week and then deployed to the frontline,” a tearful Kendi said.
“He said there had been 57 of them in a camp and only two survived,” she added.
The Ghanaian, who sustained serious injuries, also told the family that their handlers had confiscated their mobile phones and other belongings before their deployment.
“He also told us that before they were deployed, they had been asked to open accounts in a Russian bank (name withheld) and Sh1.6 million was deposited,” said Kendi.
The young widow, who has also been working in Doha as a teacher and who flew back home this week after the end of the contract, said that money has not been reflected’ in Koome’s Kenyan accounts, which she has access to.
“Which means he had not transferred it from his Russian bank. We are appealing to the Kenyan Government to help us trace the money, because we have a child who needs that money for upbringing and education,” Kendi said.
Koome’s mother said that, though the family cannot get the body to give a dignified burial, their wish is for the government to assist in getting the money to secure the orphan’s future.
“We have to accept he is gone, and there is nobody to bury. Many families don’t know the fate of their sons in Russia’s war, but we are sort of lucky that we know the fate of ours. The government should at least help the young family get the money for the child’s future,” Ms Mpinda said.
Koome’s predicament adds to the growing list of Kenyans who have been duped into joining the Russian military.