Hundreds of foreign nationals, including Burundians, have begun leaving Kenya following President William Ruto's order targeting foreign-owned small businesses, with scenes outside the Burundi embassy in Nairobi drawing comparisons to xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Burundians Queue at Embassy as Deadline Passes
Crowds of Burundians clutching large brown envelopes queued for hours outside their embassy on Monday, with suitcases and plastic bags piling up at the compound as many prepared to return home. The rush came days after Ruto gave foreign-owned small businesses until Monday to shut down, saying Kenya had "not built investor confidence for hawkers."
The order triggered immediate fear among migrants, particularly those from Burundi who rely on street vending in Nairobi for their livelihoods. Many said they had been attacked and robbed since the announcement, and some compared their treatment to xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Burundian Pastor and Foreign Minister Speak Out
"They've expelled us like animals," a Burundian pastor said in reports, adding that two of his neighbours had been attacked and robbed since the announcement. "What South Africans did to foreigners and what Kenyans are doing is the same thing," he said. He also added that it was unfair that they received no warning.
Burundi's foreign minister Edouard Bizimana condemned what he described as violence against Burundians, holding the Kenyan government directly responsible for their safety. "Letting Kenyan civilians do the work of the police gives the impression of a failed state because it gives free rein to violence, to looting, and to xenophobia," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Kenyan Officials Respond
Reports claim Kenya's junior foreign minister Korir Sing'Oei visited the embassy on Monday, apologised to those affected and assured them police would protect areas where violence had been reported. He said President Ruto's remarks had been misunderstood and that the government's primary concern was documentation and registration, not expulsion.
Government spokesperson Charles Owino said authorities had opened a formal documentation window and called on Burundians without papers to present themselves at their embassy.
Regional Context and Impact
Kenya has long attracted migrants from across the East African Community, whose members enjoy freedom of movement within the regional bloc. Burundi, one of the world's poorest countries with a population of approximately 15 million, is a member of the same bloc alongside Kenya.
The scenes in Nairobi arrive as Nigeria continues to monitor the treatment of its own citizens in South Africa, where similar accusations of xenophobia have dominated headlines for months.
