Mrs. Bibiana Waithaka (right) shares her heartbreaking experience after losing her son in the Russia-Ukraine war.
By: Abdoulie John
A grieving Kenyan mother has lifted the lid on the alleged exploitation of young Africans lured into Russia’s war against Ukraine, sharing her son’s tragic story at a major human rights forum in Banjul.
Mrs. Bibiana Waithaka told participants at a side event during the 87th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) that her 31-year-old son, Charles, was deceived, trafficked, and ultimately killed in a conflict that was never his to fight.
Speaking emotionally on Thursday at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo, Mrs. Waithaka declared: “I stand before you today as a mother whose son was taken through deception, exploited, and ultimately lost in a foreign war.”
She described Charles as an ambitious, hardworking young man who was passionate about football. He founded and supported three local clubs in Kenya and worked as a professional plant mechanic for Gatundia Construction in Laikipia County. “He was not a soldier,” she emphasized.
According to her account, Charles was approached by a Kenyan woman, Elizabeth Waitherea, who operated a small recruitment agency. After paying her $1,230 in commission, he believed he was heading to Russia for legitimate employment. His journey took him through the Middle East before reaching Russia, where a man identified as Peter Wainaina allegedly controlled his movements and isolated him from support.
Upon arrival, a Russian woman named Julia received him. His documents were confiscated, and he was forced to sign contracts in a language he did not understand. Mrs. Waithaka said her son later realized he had unwittingly enlisted in the military.
“He called me crying and begging to come home,” she recounted, her voice breaking. “The signing bonus deposited in his account was withdrawn. His bank account was controlled by someone else.”
The last contact was harrowing. Charles repeatedly called out “Mum, Mum,” but could not finish his sentence. He died shortly afterward.
Mrs. Waithaka said she received no official notification from Russian authorities. Instead, she learned of his death through social media, with confirmation coming later from others. There was no support, no explanation, and no dignity extended to the family.
Her testimony highlighted what she described as a broader pattern affecting vulnerable young Africans chasing dreams abroad. Many, she said, are deceived by criminal networks with false promises of jobs, only to be trafficked into armed conflict.
Mrs. Waithaka called for justice and accountability, urging African governments and the international community to dismantle the recruitment networks preying on desperate youth.
Her powerful address at the ACHPR session has spotlighted growing concerns over the recruitment of foreign fighters, particularly from Africa, into the Russia-Ukraine war. As more families come forward with similar stories, pressure is mounting for greater scrutiny of such exploitative practices.
