Many young people chase opportunities outside their home countries because life feels difficult and money is hard to get. In a recent story shared on Mwelekeo TV, one young Kenyan explained how such choices can lead to deep suffering instead of success.
His experience shows the risks hidden behind attractive promises and fast money.
Issa Juma comes from Mombasa, Kenya. He left home hoping to change his life and help his family. Money problems pushed him to look for work abroad.
He was not a soldier and had no military background, but he still found himself caught in the Russia-Ukraine war.
He went because he believed the financial reward would be worth the risk.Issa said he saw an advert on social media platforms like Facebook and Telegram.
The advert came from a Russian agency linked to a Kenyan contact.
The message was simple and tempting. He was told there were no complicated agents and that he would earn about 1.6 million Kenyan shillings soon after arrival.
After paying an agent fee of around 650,000 shillings, he expected to keep the rest. To someone struggling, this sounded like a life-changing chance.
He did not tell his family the truth. Instead, he said he was going to countries like Qatar or Djibouti for normal work.
He knew that if he mentioned Russia and the war with Ukraine, his family would stop him. He left Kenya on December 12, 2025, and arrived in St. Petersburg two days later.
At the airport, reality hit him fast. His passport and phone were taken, and he was given another phone with WhatsApp installed.
At first, he stayed in a good hotel while paperwork was processed. Soon after, he signed long contracts written in Russian and English.
The rules were strict. Leaving early meant paying back all the money. Another agreement was recorded on video, even though he did not fully understand everything.
He later opened a bank account using a Russian phone and an app called Yandex. The app was only in Russian. Some money arrived, but agents took their share immediately, and the rest was difficult to access.
Training followed, lasting about two weeks. It was short, harsh, and full of punishment. Soon after, he was sent to dangerous fighting zones.
Life at the front was full of fear, cold, and death. Drones were everywhere, and survival often depended on luck. Issa saw friends die and lived with constant danger.
Payment was limited, insurance promises were not honored, and there was no visible help from home authorities.He survived and returned home with only one other Kenyan.
Today, he warns others not to follow the same path. He says no amount of money is worth such suffering. His story is a clear lesson that offers of quick wealth can hide serious danger, and young people should think carefully before risking their lives for promises that may never be fulfilled.
