By Staff Reporter
A deep sense of grief and disbelief gripped Mukhunga village in Bunyala Sub-County, Busia County, on Saturday as the family, relatives, friends, and neighbours gathered for a symbolic burial of 40-year-old Oscar Khagola Mutoka, who was killed on 14 August 2025 in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Mutoka, a former Kenyan soldier, is said to have travelled to Russia in search of better economic opportunities barely two months before his death. Unbeknown to his family at the time, he had allegedly enlisted in the Russian military.
The family remained in the dark about his fate until January 2026, when they received confirmation that he had died on the battlefield.
Efforts to repatriate his body for a proper burial were unsuccessful after authorities reportedly indicated that his remains could not be retrieved from the conflict zone. This left the family with no option but to organise a mock burial ceremony to honour his memory and bring closure.
Instead of a coffin, the family set aside a two-metre grave space, where a cross inscribed with his name, date of birth, and date of death was erected in his honour.
Speaking during the emotional ceremony, his father, Charles Mutoka, expressed anguish over the circumstances surrounding his son’s death and the lack of clear information from authorities.
“I am disappointed that the government says it had no knowledge of Kenyans who travelled to Russia in search of greener pastures,” he said.
Oscar’s family remembered him as a disciplined and patriotic Kenyan who had previously served in the military, including in operations against Al-Shabaab militants and during the aftermath of the Westgate terror attack in Nairobi.
Local leaders who attended the ceremony called for accountability, support for the bereaved family, and stronger protection for Kenyans seeking employment abroad.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has raised concern over the rising number of Kenyans allegedly being drawn into the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Mudavadi revealed that two Kenyans are currently being held as prisoners of war by Ukrainian forces, while hundreds more are believed to have been recruited into the Russian military through questionable job offers and trafficking networks.
He said the government is prioritising humanitarian intervention, tracing missing nationals, and engaging diplomatic channels to halt further recruitment of Kenyans into foreign armed forces.
Mudavadi also cautioned Kenyans against accepting overseas job offers without proper verification from the Ministry of Labour or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warning that many victims are lured with promises of high-paying jobs and foreign citizenship, only to end up in conflict zones.
