Kenya has launched a process to register undocumented Burundians and other East African nationals living in the country amid growing uncertainty following President William Ruto’s directive targeting foreigners operating small businesses.
The move comes after hundreds of Burundians sought travel documents on Monday amid fears they could be forced to leave the country.
Government spokesperson Charles Owino said foreigners without valid documentation should present themselves to their respective embassies or high commissions as Kenya works with diplomatic missions to regularise their status.
Those who enter the registration process will be treated as legally present in Kenya while their documentation is being processed, Owino said.
Ruto had set Monday as the deadline for foreigners engaged in small-scale businesses to stop operating, following concerns from the Trade Ministry that some foreign nationals were working in Kenya without the required permits.
The directive triggered long queues at the Burundian Embassy in Nairobi after the mission announced that it would issue emergency travel documents at no cost to citizens wishing to return home. Some were also seen attempting to secure transport out of the country.
Reports of harassment have heightened concerns among Burundians and other foreign nationals, prompting Kenyan officials to clarify that the directive does not amount to a blanket ban on foreign traders.
Owino said the government had opened a formal registration and documentation process for foreign nationals living in Kenya without valid papers.
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He noted that historical and regional circumstances had resulted in some East Africans, including Burundians, residing and conducting business in Kenya without complete documentation.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei also apologised to Burundians who had experienced harassment, saying the President’s directive had been misunderstood. He further assured them that security would be strengthened in areas where Burundian nationals reside.
Kenya is home to hundreds of thousands of migrants from across East Africa who come to the country for employment and business opportunities. UNHCR estimates that about 16,000 Burundian refugees and asylum seekers are currently in Kenya, although the number involved in small-scale trade is unclear.
The situation has also raised concerns in Burundi. Foreign Affairs Minister Edouard Bizimana warned that continued hostile rhetoric could have consequences for Kenyans living and doing business in Burundi.
The tensions come as Ruto maintains that Kenya remains open to foreign investment but wants small-scale businesses and informal jobs reserved primarily for Kenyans.
The directive has drawn mixed reactions, with critics warning that it could fuel anti-migrant sentiment, while government officials have rejected claims that the policy promotes xenophobia.
Burundian community representatives have urged their nationals to remain calm and avoid confrontations with police, warning that the dispute could have wider implications across the East African Community, where Kenyans also operate small businesses.
