Boy Who Protested in Lang'ata School Land Saga Involving Weston Hotel Killed in Russia

Shitanda was Killed in Russia in Russia-Ukraine Battefield

Kenyans continue to suffer heavy losses in the protracted Russo-Ukrainian War, as some nationals fight on the Russian side of the conflict now stretching into its fifth year.

Among the latest casualties is David Shitanda, a Kenyan who died on the Russia-Ukraine battlefield after reportedly joining Russian forces as a mercenary.

Shitanda had travelled abroad in search of better opportunities. Before leaving Kenya, he worked at a construction site in Nairobi and later took up short-term jobs in Somalia and Canada.

Shitanda was also remembered for his activism as a pupil during the 2015 protests over the alleged grabbing of land belonging to Lang’ata Road Primary School. The demonstrations targeted the expansion of Weston Hotel, a property linked to President William Ruto, who was then serving as deputy president.

According to his family, Shitanda did not proceed beyond primary school and began supporting them immediately after completing his KCPE exams.

He reportedly enlisted with the Russian army but died just four months later. He had promised his family compensation of at least $100,000 (about KSh13 million), but international sanctions prevented him from sending money home. His body has yet to be recovered.

The Kenyan government has since stepped in to address the growing crisis. Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi suggested that Russia bears responsibility for allowing illegal recruitment networks to operate, exposing Kenyans to mercenary enlistment and battlefield deaths.

Mudavadi maintained that the government cannot be blamed for the recruitment, noting that many Kenyans are lured abroad through clandestine channels.

He revealed that rogue agencies involved in the scheme have been shut down, with others under investigation.

He disclosed that at least 27 Kenyans have been repatriated and offered psychological support, but warned that rising casualties are straining Kenya’s long-standing diplomatic ties with Russia. He signalled plans to travel to Moscow to directly address the matter.

Efforts are also underway to recover the remains of those killed. While Ukraine has reported some of the deaths, tracing bodies has proven difficult. Kenya has engaged Ukrainian authorities to help locate and repatriate remains believed to be within their territory.

Since the war began in early 2022, reports indicate that more than 200 Kenyans may have been recruited into Russian forces.

The government has linked the enlistments to recruitment networks operating locally and abroad, with Kenya’s embassy in Moscow confirming cases of injuries and stranded nationals.

Nairobi is now pushing Russian authorities to release affected citizens for repatriation, while also pursuing a Bilateral Labour Agreement aimed at protecting Kenyans from fraudulent overseas job offers. Talks are ongoing with Ukraine to secure the release of Kenyans reportedly held as prisoners of war.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has urged young Kenyans to verify foreign job opportunities through official channels to avoid exploitation and recruitment into conflict zones.