Kenya Grants Temporary Amnesty as Burundians Rush to Leave Over Foreign Trader Crackdown

Kenya has announced a temporary amnesty for undocumented migrants from East African countries after hundreds of Burundian nationals gathered outside their embassy in Nairobi seeking travel documents to return home.

The development followed a directive from the government of President William Ruto ordering the closure of small businesses operated by foreigners without valid work permits.

The directive was announced last week and enforcement was expected to begin on Monday.

The government’s decision sparked concern among foreign traders, particularly Burundians who run small businesses and street shops across Kenya.

On Monday, large numbers of Burundian nationals gathered outside their embassy in Nairobi to obtain documents that would allow them to leave the country.

Some Burundians said they had experienced threats, harassment and attacks from neighbours following President Ruto’s comments and the government’s announcement.

Jean-Baptiste Ndayizeye, a Burundian pastor, told AFP that some members of the community had been attacked and robbed.

He expressed concern over the treatment of Burundian migrants, saying they felt as though they had been forced out of the country.

Kenya is a member of the East African Community (EAC), which provides for the free movement of citizens among its eight member states, including Burundi.

The country has historically attracted migrants from across the region in search of business and employment opportunities.

According to United Nations figures, about 16,000 Burundian migrants and refugees currently live in Kenya, with many engaged in small-scale trading.

Despite the absence of a large-scale enforcement operation on Monday, crowds continued to gather outside the Burundian embassy from early morning as people sought documents and information about returning home.

In response to the growing concerns, the Kenyan government announced a temporary registration period for undocumented East African nationals.

A spokesman for President Ruto’s administration urged undocumented citizens, particularly those from Burundi, to register formally with their respective embassies.

The government said individuals who register during the designated period would be treated as legally present in Kenya.

Officials said the initiative was intended to allow undocumented migrants to come forward without fear and gain access to essential services, including healthcare, banking and legal protection.

The government also instructed security agencies and local authorities to ensure that foreign nationals were not subjected to arbitrary harassment or discrimination.

It warned that anyone attempting to exploit the new immigration measures to promote xenophobia or mistreat foreign nationals would face legal consequences.

Kenya’s junior foreign minister, Korir Sing’Oei, later visited the Burundian embassy following reports of harassment.

He apologised to members of the Burundian community and assured them that the government would deploy police to areas where incidents of violence had been reported.

Sing’Oei said Burundians had lived alongside Kenyans peacefully for many years and promised government assistance to those seeking documentation, whether they wished to regularise their status or voluntarily return home.

The government’s crackdown has, however, drawn criticism from opponents of President Ruto, who accuse him of shifting blame for Kenya’s economic challenges onto foreign nationals ahead of next year’s election.

Kenyan authorities maintain that the measures are aimed at enforcing work permit and immigration regulations rather than targeting any particular nationality.

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