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The Russian Embassy in Nairobi has dismissed reports that one of its citizens, Mikhail Lyapin, was arrested and deported from Kenya. In a press release issued on Saturday, the embassy said Lyapin was never detained or expelled, but instead accompanied to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters in Nairobi to give a statement about his business dealings in the country.
According to the embassy, Lyapin freely left Kenya later on September 26 as he had originally planned. Russian diplomats in Nairobi said they assisted him with the necessary consular and legal support during the process and ensured his rights were respected. They also emphasized that Kenyan authorities had not provided them with any official complaints or accusations about Lyapin’s activities.
“Contrary to reports by some media outlets, Mr. Lyapin has never been employed by Russian government agencies and does not work at the Russian Embassy in Nairobi,” the embassy added.
The clarification came after sections of the Kenyan media reported that Lyapin had been arrested on Thursday evening following a police operation in Nairobi. Officers reportedly found 22 Kenyan nationals in rented apartments in the city. The group was allegedly preparing to travel to Moscow for jobs, and materials such as recruitment papers, job offers, and travel documents were reportedly seized during the raid.
Initial reports suggested that the Russian national was suspected of coordinating the planned travel of these Kenyans in September and October. The incident quickly raised questions about whether a human trafficking network was operating between Kenya and Russia.
While the embassy has denied any wrongdoing on Lyapin’s part, the crackdown has already seen the arrest of a Kenyan national linked to the suspected trafficking operation. On Friday, the Kahawa Law Courts ordered Edward Kamau Gituku to remain in custody for ten days as investigations continue. He is being held at Muthaiga Police Station following a request from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which argued that more time was needed to complete inquiries into his activities.
Investigators suspect that Gituku is a central figure in a transnational human trafficking network that recruits Kenyans with promises of jobs abroad. Once ferried to Moscow, however, victims are allegedly subjected to exploitation.
The Russian Embassy has distanced itself from the matter, insisting that its citizen was only questioned briefly and then allowed to leave the country without any restrictions. However, Kenyan authorities are still piecing together the details of the operation that involved dozens of Kenyan nationals.
The case has stirred public interest because of the number of young Kenyans reportedly being lured with job promises overseas. It has also highlighted growing concerns about international trafficking syndicates that target jobseekers desperate for better opportunities abroad.
As investigations continue, the two narratives remain in sharp contrast: while the Russian Embassy maintains that its citizen is not involved, Kenyan authorities are pursuing leads that point to a wider network of recruiters exploiting vulnerable job seekers. The coming weeks are expected to provide more clarity on whether the Nairobi raids uncovered an isolated case or part of a larger trafficking chain stretching beyond Kenya’s borders.