Grief has gripped a household in Kisii County after news emerged that a young man from the area lost his life far from home. The family is struggling to understand how their son ended up in a foreign war and how his life came to a sudden end.
The man has been identified as Clinton Nyapara, aged 29, from Bonchari. Reports indicate that he was involved in the Russia and Ukraine conflict and was fighting on the side of the Russian Army. Information reaching the family suggests that he was killed during a battle by Ukrainian forces, though many details surrounding his death remain unclear.
The matter has drawn public attention in Kenya, with many people raising concern over how young Kenyans are being recruited to fight in foreign wars. Some Kenyans have called for the arrest of individuals suspected of luring citizens with false promises of jobs abroad, only for them to end up in dangerous situations.
Ukraine Defence Forces later confirmed that a foreign fighter identified as Nyapara had been shot during combat. This confirmation brought painful clarity to the family, who said they had no idea that their son was involved in the war.
According to his father, Clinton left his rural home in 2024 after telling the family that he was travelling to Qatar for work. The family believed he was seeking a better life and had no reason to doubt his explanation. They were unaware that he had allegedly joined the Russian military after leaving the country.
The family further revealed that Clinton sold a piece of family land to raise money for his travel. They said this decision now adds to their pain, as the land was meant to support the family in the future.
They are now appealing to the government and well-wishers to help them repatriate his body so that he can be buried at home according to local customs.
The issue has also attracted the attention of the government. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Singoei acknowledged that several Kenyans have died while fighting in Russia. He stated that the government has rescued more than 50 Kenyans who were trapped by fake recruitment agencies.
Singoei urged Kenyans to be very careful when seeking work abroad, especially in countries affected by war such as Russia and Ukraine. He warned that desperate job seekers are often targeted by criminals who take advantage of their hopes for a better life.
