A Kahawa Law Courts magistrate has released a man accused of recruiting Kenyans to join the Russian military on a KSh5 million bond, pending the hearing of his case.
Festus Arasa Omwamba appeared before Principal Magistrate Gideon Kiage, who ruled that the accused was eligible for bail despite objections from the prosecution.
The court ordered Omwamba to surrender all travel documents, including his passport, and barred him from leaving the country while the case is ongoing. The magistrate said the conditions were necessary to ensure the accused attends court proceedings.
Omwamba faces human trafficking charges, with prosecutors alleging he was part of a network that recruited young Kenyans by promising them jobs abroad.
According to investigators, some of those recruited were taken to Russia and allegedly ended up in areas linked to ongoing conflict. Authorities told the court the suspected operation may involve a wider transnational network targeting vulnerable job seekers.
Accused denies wrongdoing
The accused denied all charges, telling the court he was not involved in any illegal recruitment or trafficking activities.
The prosecution opposed his release, arguing that the case involves cross-border crime and that Omwamba could flee the country if granted bail. However, the court ruled that bail is a constitutional right, provided strict conditions are met.
Authorities say investigations are continuing to determine whether more individuals were involved in the alleged recruitment scheme.
The case is expected to proceed to a full hearing as officials seek to uncover the extent of the network and identify possible victims.
