Russia Clarifies Deportation of its Citizen from Kenya

The Russian Embassy in Nairobi has refuted claims that one of its citizens, Mikhail Lyapin, was arrested and deported from Kenya.

In a statement on Saturday, September 27, the embassy said Lyapin was only questioned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) about his business activities in the country.

The Russian embassy explained that Lyapin left the country on the afternoon of September 26, as he had planned.

“In the evening of September 25, 2025, Kenyan law enforcement officers escorted Mikhail Lyapin, a citizen of the Russian Federation, to one of Nairobi offices of the Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in order to question him about his business activities in the country.

“Upon completing all necessary procedures, in the afternoon of September 26, Mr. Lyapin, in accordance with his previous plans, left Kenya,” read the statement in part.

The embassy noted that during Lyapin’s grilling, it provided the necessary consular and legal assistance and made sure that his legal rights were not violated.

The Russian embassy also mentioned that it has no official information from the Kenyan authorities regarding any claims against Lyapin or his activities.

The mission also debunked allegations that the Russian national was its employee.

“Contrary to the reports of a number of media outlets, Mr. Lyapin has never been an employee of Russian governmental bodies and does not work at the Russian Embassy in Nairobi,” the embassy stated.

Further, the Russian Embassy urged Kenyan citizens seeking to travel to Russia to make formal inquiries before travelling.

“The Embassy once again urges Kenyan citizens traveling to the Russian Federation for study, work, tourism, or other purposes to contact the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Nairobi should they have any inquiries, and Russian citizens in Kenya to register with the Mission’s Consulate Section,” the statement concluded.

This comes after reports emerged that Lyapin was apprehended in connection with the illegal recruitment of Kenyans to the Russian military and to fight in the Ukraine war.

At least 22 Kenyans were rescued on Thursday, September 25, from rented apartments in Athi River, Machakos County, where they were unknowingly being processed to travel to Russia.

On Friday, the High Court granted police permission to detain Edward Gituku, a suspect accused of leading a trafficking ring, for 10 days to complete investigations.

The investigators also requested time to record victim statements and review electronic evidence from the devices seized.