'Russia Took Away My Husband' Family buries 'spirit'
National
By
Kimaku Chege
| Mar 07, 2026
Families of Kenyans unlawfully recruited into Russia’s army demand accountability, the safe return of survivors and repatriation of the fallen. [Collins Oduor, Standard]
Tears and grief overwhelmed the home of 33‑year‑old James Kamau Ndung’u In mboroti village, Ndeiya, Kiambu County, as family, friends and other bereaved relatives gathered for a mock burial in his honor — a symbolic send‑off in the absence of his body.
Kamau, who traveled abroad seeking better opportunities, was reportedly taken to Ukraine to fight for Russia amid the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war.
The family only received confirmation of his death in recent days, and with his remains untraceable, they laid him to rest in spirit among loved ones.
Families of Kenyans unlawfully recruited into Russia’s army demand accountability, the safe return of survivors and repatriation of the fallen. [Collins Oduor, Standard]
Mourners, including families whose own relatives are still believed to be stuck in Russia or on the battlefield, cried openly as they watched 33 candles — one for each year of Kamau’s life — lit and blown out in sequence.
“What will I tell your daughter? I have nowhere I have buried you. Russia took away my husband, the father of my kids,” sobbed Jane Wanjiku, Kamau’s wife, her voice breaking with emotion.
Kamau’s father, Ndungu Kamau, addressed the crowd and government officials directly: “My son went abroad for work and hope, but he never came back. This cannot be the fate of our young people. I want the government to investigate those responsible for sending him into this war and help bring his body home.”
His plea echoed through the gathering, punctuating the anger and frustration felt by families caught in similar predicaments.
Kamau’s mother added her voice, her face stained with tears: “We raised him with love and taught him to be strong. Now he lies far away on a battlefield we never chose. No parent should bury their child with no grave to visit.”
The presence of other families underscored the wider crisis. Several relatives of young men still believed to be in Russia or on front lines in Ukraine stood alongside Kamau’s kin, holding Memories of sons, brothers and cousins whose fates remain unknown.
Human rights advocates have recently pressured the government to take action after an intelligence report revealed that more than 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia, some under false promises of jobs and better pay.
Speakers at the ceremony urged authorities to clarify and regulate foreign employment, warning that many youths continue to be lured by unverified recruitment schemes that lead them into perilous situations abroad.
“Young people must first exhaust opportunities here at home before risking their lives chasing promises that end in grief,” one relative said.
As the sun set on the ceremony, family members placed the final candle among the 33 lit earlier — a symbol of a life celebrated, a future lost, and a family forever changed.
Though the body of James Kamau Ndung’u may never return to Kenyan soil, the ceremony served as a poignant testament to his memory and a rallying cry for justice and accountability.