No bodies to bury for families of Kenyans killed in Russia's war

The agonizing lack of bodies to bury for Kenyan families that continue to learn of the death of their relatives in Russia’s war against Ukraine is searing through the hearts of many in the country as the true cost of Russia’s war hits home.

With the total number of Kenyans killed and missing rises above 18, according to rights group Vocal Africa’s count, one of the ways the pain of the war on Kenya is now being revealed is how families are mourning their losses.

Families with a tear to shed and a story of pain to tell about a son, a husband a brother killed while fighting for Russia in Ukrainian territories now straddle the breadth of Kenya; from Busia to Nandi - Kisii, Nairobi and Nyeri.

 A family in Mukurweini held a memorial without the body of their loved one. Charles Wangari was reportedly killed in Russia on Christmas day and his body could not be extracted from the battlefield for repatriation and decent burial.

In photos seen by the Saturday Standard, Wangari’s family was seen standing around his portrait in a solemn ceremony. A sombre mood engulfed the Mukurweini village as family and friends prepared to embark on a healing journey. 

Wangari was a former Laikipia-based footballer who left Kenya in search of employment in Europe. His journey, however,  took a different turn after he got to Russia and was duped into military training, as has been happening to youthful men from Africa who find themselves there following promises of jobs in security, transport and logistics.

Two days after the Nyeri family was organizing itself in mourning thousands of miles away in Europe, Ukrainian intelligence released information that two bodies of Kenyans who had been recruited by deception to fight for Russia had been recovered near Lyman in the Donetsk region.

In the ongoing war, which completes its fourth year on the 24th of this month, Lyman has been a scene of heavy fighting. The city was captured by the Russian military in May 2022, before being recaptured by Ukrainian forces in October the same year. The city has been nearly destroyed by the 2022 fighting, and most of the population has fled. Today it is within the war frontlines and most soldiers deployed there by the Russian army have been cited in various international security forums as disposable.

The deceased were identified as 39-year-old Denis Ombwori and 35-year-old Simon Wahome. Details of their particulars, according to the Ukrainian military, were that Ombwori was born January 30, 1987, while Wahome was born May 21, 1991.

Their remains were discovered near the body of another Kenyan fighter, Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, who was killed in the same area. Last week the BBC reported Mogesa killing on the frontlines saying that his family was seeking answers and support to repatriate his body. The rep ort said Mogesa, 29, initially left Kenya for a job in Qatar in 2024, but later told his relatives that he was travelling to Russia.

On January 31st, Ukrainian authorities reported that he had died in a so-called "meat assault" - one involving high casualty numbers - in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, after being recruited in Qatar. They said the Russians did not evacuate his body, and he was carrying the passports of two other Kenyans.

Vincent Okemwa, Mogesa's cousin, said they did not believe it when they were informed of his death. He said the news was first relayed to Mogesa's brother by a colleague who had a relative in Russia, before it was made public.

He told the BBC Newsday programme that Mogesa had notified them when he moved to Russia from Qatar and they were in communication during his training there for three weeks.

They had, however, not heard from him after the training, and the last time they had spoken was on 28 October.

Okemwa told the BBC that after his death, Mogesa's family was now in a "pathetic state". He said Mogesa's father had sold land to facilitate his son's travel to Qatar and he was his family's hope for a better life.

"I don't know how I can put it, but things are not good," he said.

On Friday, Ukrainian intelligence indicated that the three Mogesa, Ombwori and Wahome were recruited while working in Qatar for security firms that promised high and stable pay.

Ombwori and Mogesa reported to a recruitment centre in Yaroslavl, Russia, on September 27, 2025, with Wahome joining them later on October 28. After undergoing a five-day training programme in handling weapons, they were deployed to the Donbas region and assigned to assault the city of Lyman.

Our sources within Kyiv’s Department of Defence said the group moved through what was described as a “kill zone.” Ukrainian Defence Forces engaged them, resulting in the deaths of all three. It added that the Russian command failed to provide support or arrange evacuation for the mercenaries during the fighting.

The department also noted that Ombwori and Wahome were confirmed as Kenyans through passports and identification documents recovered from their bodies. Mogesa’s body was reportedly located six days ago at a Russian-held position in the Donetsk region following a deadly assault mission.

Reports suggest he had also lived and worked in Qatar before signing a contract with the Russian military, where he was later deployed to one of its assault units.

Following his death, Russian troops allegedly left his body behind, and his family has not received any formal notification from Russian authorities about his passing.

The Mogesa story mirrors that of a Busia former KDF soldier, Oscar Khagola, last week reported killed,  whose story The Standard broke on December 7 last year after the family started making frantic efforts to know his whereabouts.

His wife Milka Wangila told this paper from their home in Ikapolok Teso North that the last time they exchanged messages between them was July 16 after he left in May

When Khagola left the country, he did not reveal the true nature of his destination. He only video-called to notify them he had arrived safely in Moscow. That was also the first time he disclosed the truth to his family.  He said he was with colleagues recruited with him and were headed for a two-day journey by train to the Rostov Military training base that is based in the southern part of the Rostov region of Russia.

"We are in St.Petersburg, traveling to Rostov by train. That's a two day." Read an sms sent to his wife Milcah on July, 6, 2025, at 3:41pm.

"He assured me that the place was very safe," Milcah said, hanging onto that last shred of confidence. Their communication continued for two weeks; he was waiting for the processing of his money and was planning to buy a Russian SIM card. July 16, 2025, was the last time they communicated.

"I'm good, still not having a line. That's the problem." Was the last SMS sent to her by her spouse on July 16, 2025, at 9:28 PM.

In a tearful press briefing on January 27 in Nairobi Oscar Khagola’s father, Charles Ojiambo, tearfully told the press, “ My son left Kenya in May. He travelled through Instanbul. He told us he had a good job. The next photo he sent was from a trench. He was with 13 other Kenyans, He said Baba pray for me, this ius not what they promised’ now he is dead

A former Matatu driver from Ruaka-Nairobi, Martin Macharia, was the first confirmed Kenyan death by Ukrainian authorities. The Standard broke the story on December 2nd last year. Macharia’s widow Grace Gathoni is today seeking ways to have Kenyan authorities record his death for a certificate which is a legal instrument for a widow. She has been hitting a dead end in all government offices because there is nobody and no authority is available to explain the circumstances of her husband’s death.

Last week, rights group Vocal Africa said they were following up on at least 18 cases of Kenyans who were either dead or missing. They have asked the government to verify the figures, adding that the number was likely to be higher.

“We cannot confirm a specific figure. At Vocal Africa we are working with a figure of 18 cases,” Said Hussein Khalid, Vocal Africa boss. “We have 18 cases that are active that we are following. Some of those who are here are part of that.  That is why in our demands we are asking that they be verified. Our fear is that it could easily be above 50. It could be between 50 and 100. We are not sure. What we can confirm are the cases that we have as Vocal Africa, 18 cases.

The Kenyan government has not confirmed the deaths of any of its nationals killed in Ukraine. Information about the deaths has been getting to families through returnees who are now in the country but operate behind the scenes, fearing for their own security.

“ In terms of moving forward, we are in communication with the ministry of foreign affairs” Said Khalid last week, “We have reached out to them for an appointment we want to organize so that these families can actually go there as a group to meet the ministry. We are hoping that will happen this week or very early next week”

The Saturday Standard cannot confirm whether that has happened.