Hundreds of Burundians queued outside their embassy in Nairobi on Monday seeking travel documents to return home, following President William Ruto's order for a crackdown on small-scale foreign traders in Kenya. According to Khusoko, most of those in line were young men, some carrying suitcases or a single bag of belongings. The development signals rising pressure on foreign traders operating in the country and prompted many Burundian nationals to prepare for departure.

According to Tuko, hundreds of Burundians and other foreign nationals gathered at Nairobi’s Country Bus Station and left for Uganda as Kenyan authorities intensified a crackdown linked to President William Ruto on illegal immigrants and unpermitted businesses. The report describes crowded departures and heightened fear among affected communities, but provides no casualty figures or official government statement confirming the scale of enforcement.

Burundian nationals living in Kenya are reportedly rushing to leave the country ahead of an anticipated government crackdown on foreign traders, according to the Sowetan. The reported exodus follows a call by Kenya's president for authorities to shut down all small-scale businesses operated by foreigners who lack valid permits. The directive targets unpermitted foreign-owned enterprises, and its announcement has heightened anxiety among immigrant trading communities, prompting many Burundians to prepare for departure before enforcement begins.

Kenya's Ambassador to Burundi, Henry Wambuma, has assured Kenyan citizens living in Burundi that they remain safe, stating that bilateral relations between the two East African nations remain intact despite an ongoing crackdown on foreign small-scale traders in Kenya. In a diplomatic address issued on Monday, September 7, 2026, Wambuma urged Kenyans residing in Burundi to remain calm, according to Ghafla Kenya.

Kenyan political analyst Arnold Maliba has argued that Burundian nationals are not the country's real problem, blaming President William Ruto's leadership instead, according to Tuko. The remarks follow Ruto's 2 September announcement of a crackdown on foreign hawkers and small-scale traders, with enforcement beginning on 7 September. The directive has drawn criticism from figures like Maliba, who contend the government's economic management, rather than foreign traders, is to blame for Kenya's challenges.

A video reported by Tuko shows Kenyans forcing a man into a police car after he allegedly tried to harass a Burundian vendor. According to the outlet, the man was removed from a Burundian-owned hotel after attempting to intimidate its owner. The incident comes amid rising scrutiny of undocumented foreign traders in Kenya, though details of any charges or the man's identity were not provided.