حظر روتو للمحلات الصغيرة المملوكة لأجانب يدخل حيز التنفيذ، والبورونديون في كينيا يتدافعون إلى سفارة بلادهم في نيروبي للمغادرة

According to Africanews, hundreds of Burundians residing in Kenya flocked to the Burundian embassy in Nairobi on Monday, queuing for hours to process travel documents, preparing to leave this East African neighboring country where they made their living. The trigger for this exodus was an order issued last week by Kenyan President William Ruto, citing that "investor confidence has not yet been built for street vendors," requiring small businesses operated by foreigners to close before Monday.

Footage from the scene showed crowds holding large brown envelopes lining up outside the embassy, with suitcases and plastic bags piled up in the courtyard. Burundian pastor Jean-Baptiste Ndayizeye told Agence France-Presse: "They expelled us like animals." He claimed two of his neighbors were attacked and robbed, and compared the current situation to xenophobic violence that had occurred in South Africa: "What South Africans did to foreigners, and what Kenyans are doing now, is the same thing." Agence France-Presse said it could not independently verify these claims.

Kenya has long attracted immigrants from member states of the East African Community (EAC), a regional organization that grants citizens of member states the right to free movement of people. Burundi is an EAC member state with a population of about 15 million and is one of the world's poorest countries, while Kenya is recognized as the region's economic engine. Under the framework of regional integration, Burundians legally enter Kenya to make a living, but Ruto's closure order has left many Burundians who depend on street vending with no means of subsistence.

Another Burundian, Eric Bizimana, came to Nairobi in 2022 after being unemployed in his home country for years. He said high costs caused him to abandon his efforts to apply for a work permit. A Kenyan motorcycle driver who took two Burundians to the embassy, Philemon Jaika Adamba, said: "They are very sad when they leave. This is unfair."

Pressure from the neighboring country and "misunderstood" statements

Burundian Foreign Minister Edouard Bizimana posted on the social media platform X, condemning "violence against foreigners, particularly Burundians," and clearly stated: "The Kenyan government bears responsibility for the safety of Burundians living in Kenya." He further warned: "Allowing Kenyan civilians to do the police's work gives the impression of a failed state, as it amounts to tolerating violence, robbery, and xenophobic sentiment."

Facing pressure from the neighboring country, Kenya's Deputy Foreign Minister Korir Sing'oei went to the embassy on Monday to apologize to the Burundians and characterized the president's remarks as "misunderstood." He said: "Due to this misunderstanding, many people have been attacked by neighbors and friends." Sing'oei promised that police would protect areas where violence had been reported, while emphasizing that the government's goal is "to understand your living conditions, location, whether you hold identity documents, and whether your work is registered."

Kenyan government spokesman Charles Owino said the authorities have opened a "formal document registration window," calling on Burundians to go to the embassy to submit relevant materials. He acknowledged: "The government recognizes that, due to historical reasons and regional dynamics, citizens of several East African countries, including many Burundians, have been residing and operating in Kenya without complete documentation."

However, which industries and nationalities Ruto's closure order targets remains unclear. In this exodus, Burundian immigrants who depend on street vending have been most directly affected; but regarding the scale and systemic nature of violent attacks against Burundians, there are currently only individual accounts, with no official statistics.