Kenya: Burundian Traders Regularization Grace Period Eases Tensions

• On September 14, 2026, Burundian nationals seeking travel documents were dispersed with tear gas outside their embassy in Nairobi amidst heightened tensions.
• The situation follows Kenyan President William Ruto's early September announcement of measures targeting foreign small-scale traders and street vendors.
• The Kenyan government has granted a 90-day grace period for foreign nationals to regularize their work permits, immigration documents, licenses, and business registrations.
• Despite some Burundians resuming business activities like street vending and restaurant operations, anxiety persists within the community.
• Many Burundians face a difficult choice between returning home or attempting to regularize their status to continue working in Kenya.

For many Burundians, the immediate future presents a difficult choice: return to their home country or navigate the process of regularization to continue their livelihoods in Kenya.

Tensions have remained elevated among Burundian nationals residing in Nairobi, culminating in an incident on Monday, September 14, 2026, where several individuals were dispersed with tear gas outside their embassy. These individuals had gathered to obtain travel documents, indicating a desire to return to Burundi. This event occurred amidst a broader atmosphere of anxiety, though signs of easing tensions have also emerged, with some Burundians resuming their business activities, particularly in the restaurant and street vending sectors.

Since September 7, numerous Burundian nationals have been converging on their embassy in Nairobi, seeking travel documents. Hundreds have been observed with suitcases and personal belongings, driven by concerns over new measures announced by Kenyan authorities. Reports from a Burundian resident, who has lived in Nairobi for several years, indicated that some Burundians in neighborhoods with particularly active youth groups faced situations where landlords locked their homes and denied them entry. On the aforementioned Monday, the situation escalated at the embassy when young people reportedly refused to disperse after embassy staff arrived, leading to police intervention and the use of tear gas, according to witnesses. Witnesses also stated that the embassy had announced it would not issue documents that day, citing staff fatigue from high demand. Official figures regarding potential injuries or arrests from this operation were not available by Monday afternoon.

Despite these tense encounters, indicators of calm have been noted across various Nairobi neighborhoods. As early as the previous week, some Burundians had begun to resume their commercial activities. This included women operating small restaurants and others selling Burundian kebabs, a popular dish in the Kenyan capital, as observed by witnesses. By Monday afternoon, another Burundian living in Nairobi confirmed that young Burundian street vendors had returned to their trade, selling coffee with thermoses in hand. A Rwandan man living alongside Burundians in Nairobi further reported that authorities had provided clear assurances regarding measures to protect Burundians and prevent any attacks against them.

The current situation stems from recent pronouncements by Kenyan President William Ruto concerning business operations conducted by foreign nationals. In early September, President Ruto unveiled new policies specifically targeting foreigners engaged in small-scale trade and street vending across Kenya. This announcement generated considerable apprehension within various foreign communities, with Burundians being particularly affected, given that many operate small businesses in Nairobi.

Responding to the confusion and concern, the Kenyan government subsequently introduced a 90-day grace period. This window allows affected foreign nationals to regularize their immigration status, including obtaining necessary work permits, updating immigration documents, securing business licenses, and completing business registrations. In conjunction with this regularization initiative, Nairobi also issued a directive calling for an immediate cessation of any threats or forms of harassment directed at foreign nationals. Kenyan officials have actively engaged in efforts to reassure these communities, with a representative from the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs even visiting Burundians gathered outside their embassy to clarify the government's new measures.

For many Burundians in Kenya, the recent policy changes have presented a profound dilemma: whether to return to their home country or remain in Kenya and attempt to regularize their status. The significant rush to the Burundian embassy since the previous week underscores the depth of these concerns. While some individuals sought documents to facilitate their return to Burundi, others expressed hopes of continuing their work in Kenya after successfully regularizing their legal standing.

The observed resumption of activities, such as the reopening of small restaurants, the sale of kebabs, and the return of street vendors, offers a tangible sign of a return to normalcy for some. However, the incidents that unfolded on Monday outside the embassy serve as a stark reminder that a segment of the community continues to experience considerable anxiety. The choice between repatriation and navigating the regularization process remains a difficult one for many, highlighting the complex human impact of the Kenyan government's foreign traders policy.

Lawyers and compliance officers advising foreign nationals operating small businesses in Kenya, particularly Burundians, must immediately review their clients' immigration status, work permits, and business registrations. The Kenyan government has issued a 90-day grace period for regularization, and non-compliance could lead to significant legal and operational risks.

Source: Original reporting via SOS Médias Burundi