President William Ruto’s move to kick out foreign nationals engaged in street hawking has triggered a major diplomatic row with the government of Burundi, leaving thousands of traders scrambling to leave Kenya in panic.
The crisis began after the President issued a directive last Wednesday ordering authorities to shut down small-scale retail and hawking operations run by foreign nationals across the country. What was meant to protect local traders has instead turned into a messy international incident that has embarrassed the government and alarmed East African partners.
The immediate aftermath was chaos. Hundreds of Burundian nationals rushed to their embassy in Nairobi, desperately seeking travel documents to return home. Videos circulating online showed massive crowds packed inside the embassy compound, with people carrying luggage as they sought laissez-passer documents to leave Kenya. Similar scenes were witnessed at the Machakos Country Bus Station on Monday, September 7, where anxious traders with their belongings competed for bus tickets heading back to their home country.
At the Kenya-Uganda border in Malaba, things were equally hectic. Travellers were scrambling to buy bus tickets as word spread about the new policy. The panic was palpable, with many Burundian traders who have been living and doing business in Kenya suddenly finding themselves unwelcome.
The Burundi government did not take the situation lightly. Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it issued a stern statement saying that Kenya is fully responsible for the safety of all its citizens living in the country. In a show of force, Burundi warned that it reserves the right to take necessary measures under the framework of reciprocity if anything happens to its nationals. The government also said it was making arrangements to send buses to evacuate its citizens, with the embassy set to issue free travel documents.
But things got worse when Burundi’s Foreign Affairs ministry accused President Ruto of making inflammatory statements that worsened the situation. The government said the President’s speech actually triggered more violence against Burundian citizens, with some traders reporting they faced dispossession and unjustified violence as they went about their business.
Back home, Kenya’s Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui tried to explain the government’s position. He said most of these foreign traders have been breaking visa and regulatory rules, and those with proper documentation must get operating licenses before they can continue trading. The message was clear: Kenya is not banning foreign traders outright, just ensuring they follow the law.
Despite this clarification, the damage had been done. Many Burundian traders felt caught off guard and unprepared by the sudden directive. Some called on President Ruto to soften his stance, arguing they had not been given enough time to pack up and leave properly.
The whole affair has raised uncomfortable questions about how Kenya handles immigration and trade issues. While protecting local traders is important, the way this directive was implemented has cost Kenya its reputation in the region. The East African Community, which prides itself on free movement of people and goods, now finds itself in troubled waters over a decision by one member state.
As buses continue to ferry Burundian nationals out of Kenya, and diplomatic tensions simmer between the two countries, it’s clear that President Ruto’s government will need to find a way to restore calm. Whether through dialogue or compromise, something needs to give before this situation spirals further out of control and damages Kenya’s standing in the region even more.
For now, the streets of Nairobi are noticeably quieter, with many foreign traders having already packed up their goods and left. But the diplomatic fallout will take much longer to heal.
