KEThe East Africa Law Society (EALS) has warned Kenya against harassing Burundian traders and other East African Community (EAC) citizens under a new directive by President William Ruto. The directive, effective September 7, prohibits foreign nationals from engaging in small-scale hawking and trading in Kenya, citing concerns about competition with Kenyan businesses. This led to a mass exodus of Burundian nationals, with many gathering at Nairobi’s Machakos Country Bus Station and the Burundi Embassy for travel documents. Burundi’s government responded by sending buses to Kenya and offering free laissez-passer documents to assist citizens leaving. EALS expressed concern over the impact on Burundian citizens’ personal security and dignity, emphasizing that nationality should not equate to illegality. The society called for transparency in enforcement procedures and urged regional leaders to address the issue.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced account of the situation, highlighting both Kenya’s regulatory actions and the concerns raised by EALS regarding the treatment of Burundian nationals. It does not overtly favor one side over the other, focusing on the legal and diplomatic implications rather than esp우
