Kenya offers amnesty for migrants after Burundians rush to leave

What the report says

Kenya has announced a temporary amnesty for undocumented migrants from East African Community countries after many Burundian nationals in Nairobi hurried to their embassy to seek papers to leave the country, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on AFP and Reuters. The development follows a recent Kenyan government order directing authorities to shut down small businesses run by foreigners operating without work permits.

The article says the directive triggered confusion and fear among some Burundians living in Kenya, with crowds gathering outside the Burundian embassy on Monday. Kenya is a major destination for migrants from the region, and the report cites United Nations figures that put the Burundian population in the country at about 16,000, many of them involved in small-scale street trade. Some interviewees told AFP they had faced threats, harassment or violence after President William Ruto’s remarks and the trade crackdown.

In response, a spokesman for Ruto’s administration urged undocumented nationals, especially Burundians, to register formally at their embassies during a designated period. The government said those in the process of registration would be treated as legally present for now, and it instructed security agencies and local authorities not to harass or discriminate against foreign nationals.

Kenya’s junior foreign minister also visited the Burundian embassy, apologized, and said police would protect areas where violence had been reported. The episode highlights tension around migration, informal trade and economic anxiety ahead of Kenya’s next election, although the article does not provide evidence of a nationwide crackdown actually being carried out.