Hundreds of Burundian nationals thronged a cybercafé in Kilimani, Nairobi, on Sunday, scrambling to process travel documents amid growing anxiety over their status in Kenya.
The rush followed remarks by President William Ruto warning foreign nationals against operating small businesses in Nairobi, comments many Burundians interpreted as a directive to leave the country.
Footage of the crowded scene, shared by Citizen Digital, showed a dense queue stretching along the street outside the premises as applicants sought to arrange paperwork at short notice.
The scramble coincided with an announcement from the Embassy of Burundi in Nairobi that it would begin issuing Laisser-Passer travel documents from September 7, 2026.
Ambassador Evelyne Habonimana signed the notice, which set service hours of 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily at the embassy’s Kilimani offices on Denis Pritt Road.
Applicants must present a passport photo on a white background, a national ID copy, an identity certificate and a residence certificate. Same-day collection is not permitted, and late arrivals must return the next working day.
The Laisser-Passer allows travel within East African Community states — Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan — and remains valid for one year.
In a sharply worded post accompanying the notice, Burundi’s embassy accused Kenya of mistreating and harassing its citizens, calling on Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, as EAC chairperson, to convene an urgent summit to rein in Ruto.
Kenyans reacted with mixed views online. Some argued Ruto’s remarks targeted illegal hawking rather than residency broadly, while others drew comparisons to xenophobic violence in South Africa and urged compassion for the displaced community.
Under current Kenyan immigration rules, Burundians are exempt from visa requirements for stays of up to 180 days under EAC free movement protocols.