Gov’t Speaks On Viral Kenyan’s Confrontation With Burundian
The Kenyan government has told Burundi people living and working in the country that they are secure, following claims of harassment following a viral video.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 22, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei promised that the government is devoted to the security and well-being of all Kenyan people, including those from the East African Community.
“To assure that our brothers and sisters from Burundi, as part of the citizens of Jumuiya, are safe in Kenya,” Sing’Oei said in a message posted on X.
To assure that our brothers and sisters from Burundi, as part of the citizens of Jumuiya, are safe in Kenya. https://t.co/ZHF4NTvRsr— Korir Sing’Oei (@SingoeiAKorir) July 22, 2026
The move follows a viral video in which a Kenyan man purportedly confronts a Burundian for allegedly stealing jobs and business opportunities from Kenyans while questioning his status in the nation.
The event prompted massive condemnation online, with many Kenyans condemning the remarks.
They reaffirmed the country’s long-standing tradition of welcoming citizens from across the East African region.
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. pic.twitter.com/tOXUqrEVzh— IVY (@ivymuthe) July 20, 2026
The video further drew the attention of a Burundi diplomat, Fred Ngoga.
Ngoga also serves as Senior Advisor for International Partnerships, the African Union Border Program (AUBP), and Regional Security Mechanisms within the Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (PAPS) department of the African Union Commission.
He firmly condemned the incident and also dismissed the claims of Burundians being mistreated in Kenya, stating that the incident was unfortunate.
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According to Egonga, the sentiments captured in the video did not reflect the views of most Kenyans, as the country has always welcomed the Burundi nationals and even intermarried with most of them.
“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. I commend them,” Ngoga stated.
The ambassador thanked Kenyans who publicly condemned the incident and acknowledged the swift response by Kenyan leaders following the video’s circulation.
In response, the Kenyan government reaffirmed its commitment to the security and well-being of citizens from partner states within the regional bloc.
Kenya and Burundi are among the EAC member states whose citizens regularly cross borders for trade, employment, education and investment.
Thousands of Burundians live and work in Kenya, where they operate businesses, pursue higher education and are employed in various sectors of the economy.
Gov’t Speaks On Viral Kenyan’s Confrontation With Burundian
