Sing’oei apologises to Burundians, assures protection amid trader crackdown

Nairobi, Kenya — On September 7, Kenyan Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei apologized to Burundian nationals for harassment stemming from confusion surrounding the government's crackdown on unlicensed foreign traders. The assurance came during his visit to the Burundian Embassy in Nairobi, where he met with Burundian nationals seeking clarity on their status following President William Ruto's recent remarks on foreign traders.

Sing’oei assured the Burundian community that the government's priority was to ensure foreigners were properly documented and protected. He acknowledged confusion over the government's directives had contributed to harassment, urging the community to remain calm. The PS said the government would increase security in neighborhoods with significant immigrant populations, including Bahati and Muthurwa, to prevent further incidents.

The documentation drive was not solely aimed at enforcing immigration and business regulations but also to protect legal foreign nationals. Sing’oei emphasized the government's intention to understand Burundian nationals' living situations, ensuring proper documentation, registration, and identification. He added that legally operating businesses would also benefit from having necessary licences, as this would lead to better protection under the government.

The intervention follows hundreds of Burundian nationals reportedly seeking documentation at the Burundian Embassy and nearby cyber cafés in Nairobi, amidst uncertainty triggered by President Ruto's September 2 warning. Long queues were reported, with nationals seeking to regularize their documents. The government clarified that the policy did not constitute a blanket ban on foreigners but addressed provisions in the Local Content Bill currently before Parliament.

Sing’oei previously assured foreigners with valid documentation that they remained legally protected, urging Kenyans to understand the measures to prevent misunderstandings from fueling hostility against foreign communities. The Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry has stressed Kenya's openness to legitimate foreign investment, with foreigners required to meet immigration and licensing requirements to operate in the country.