Kenya Offers Temporary Amnesty to East African Migrants After Business Crackdown Sparks Panic
Nairobi, 8 September 2026
Following a crackdown on foreign-owned small businesses that sparked panic among Burundian nationals, Kenya has granted temporary amnesty to undocumented East African migrants to regularise their status.
The Genesis of the Crackdown
The escalating tension stems from a recent directive by Kenyan President William Ruto, who ordered foreign hawkers and small-scale retailers operating without valid work permits to close their businesses [2][4]. This policy, which aimed to restrict informal retail trade to Kenyan citizens, officially took effect on Monday, 7 September 2026 [1][3]. While the government maintained that the order targeted unlicensed traders rather than legally registered East African Community (EAC) citizens, the announcement sparked widespread panic and reports of localized harassment across the capital [1][3].
Panic and Repatriation Demands at the Burundi Embassy
In Nairobi, the anxiety culminated on Monday, 7 September 2026, when hundreds of Burundian nationals rushed to their embassy to secure emergency travel documents [1][3]. Kenya is home to approximately 16,000 Burundian migrants and refugees, many of whom have coexisted peacefully with Kenyan nationals for years [1]. Amidst reports of harassment following the business closure deadline, the Burundi embassy began issuing free emergency travel documents to citizens preparing to exit the country [3]. The emotional toll of the crisis was highlighted by Jean-Baptiste Ndayizeye, a Burundian pastor, who lamented that they felt expelled “like animals” [1].
Diplomatic Intervention and Government Apology
In an effort to de-escalate the diplomatic and humanitarian fallout, Kenya’s Junior Foreign Minister, Korir Sing’oei, visited the Burundian embassy on Monday, 7 September 2026, to address the gathered crowd [1][3]. Sing’oei offered a formal apology for the reported harassment and guaranteed police protection in violence-affected areas, reminding both communities of their long history of living as peaceful neighbours [1][3]. To reinforce this stance, the Kenyan government issued an official directive prohibiting security agencies and local authorities from subjecting foreign nationals to arbitrary harassment, warning that any elements exploiting the situation to fuel xenophobia would face the full force of the law [1].
A Temporary Amnesty to Regularise Status
To provide a structured resolution to the crisis, the Ruto administration has introduced a temporary amnesty period for undocumented East African migrants [1][4]. Under this initiative, unregistered regional migrants are urged to formally register at their respective diplomatic missions [1][4]. A Kenyan government spokesperson confirmed that for the duration of this designated registration period, all individuals undergoing the process will be presumed legally present in Kenya [1]. This window is designed to bring undocumented neighbours “out of the shadows,” ensuring they can access healthcare, banking, and legal protections without fear of immediate penalty, while the government pledges to assist both those wishing to regularise their stay and those choosing voluntary repatriation [1][3].