NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenyan government has moved to reassure Burundian nationals living and working in the country following widespread condemnation of a viral video showing a Kenyan man verbally confronting a Burundian tea and mandazi vendor in Nairobi.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, showed the man accusing the vendor of taking business opportunities from Kenyans and questioning his presence in the country.
The incident sparked public outrage, with many Kenyans denouncing the remarks as xenophobic and inconsistent with the spirit of regional integration under the East African Community (EAC).
The exchange prompted reactions from senior government officials in both Kenya and Burundi.
Burundi Envoy Condemns Incident
Burundi’s Ambassador to Kenya, Fred Ngoga, said the confrontation did not reflect the views of most Kenyans, describing the two countries as close partners with longstanding social and cultural ties.
“The majority of Kenyans are decent and good people who welcome their brothers and sisters from Burundi. We also intermarry. A majority have rejected this hate,” Ngoga said in a statement posted on X.
The ambassador thanked Kenyans who publicly condemned the incident and acknowledged the response by Kenyan leaders following the video’s circulation.
He also appealed for the continued protection of Burundian citizens residing in Kenya, saying they should be treated with dignity and allowed to live and work peacefully as members of the wider East African community.
Kenya Assures Burundians of Their Safety
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei responded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to safeguarding citizens from all East African Community partner states living in Kenya.
“To assure that our brothers and sisters from Burundi, as part of the citizens of Jumuiya, are safe in Kenya,” Sing’Oei wrote on X.
Kenya and Burundi are members of the East African Community, whose integration agenda promotes the free movement of people, labour, goods, services and capital across member states.
Thousands of Burundians live, study and work in Kenya, with many engaged in trade, business, education and other sectors of the economy.
Debate Over Xenophobia
The incident has reignited debate over xenophobia and the treatment of foreign nationals in East Africa.
Although Kenya has largely avoided the widespread anti-foreigner violence witnessed in some African countries, the viral confrontation has raised concerns about the need to guard against growing anti-migrant sentiment.
Social media users overwhelmingly condemned the harassment, arguing that foreign nationals legally residing in Kenya should not face intimidation.
“This bodaboda guy harassing a Burundi national who is selling kahawa and mandazi in Nairobi CBD is wrong in so many ways,” one X user, identified as Omwamba, posted.
Another user, Kebz, wrote:
“I don’t see the need to harass Burundians who sell coffee and snacks on the streets because Kenyans are not willing to do those jobs. Let them be.”
