Details of UDA, Burundi's Ruling Party Meeting Amid 90-Day Plan for Undocumented Burundians

Kenya and Burundi have reaffirmed their close bilateral relations following a meeting between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Burundi’s ruling party, CNDD-FDD. 

In a statement on Wednesday, September 9, UDA said Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan hosted the Secretary General of Burundi’s ruling party CNDD-FDD, Révérien Ndikuriyo, at the party headquarters.

"Kenya and Burundi continue to enjoy close cooperation, with our two countries working together within the wider East African Community (EAC) on trade and investment, and with the free movement of people and goods central to this relationship," the statement read.

Omar and his Burundian counterpart also discussed ways of strengthening relations between the two parties, with both sides agreeing to share experiences and work together on party building.

"The discussions centered on strengthening relations between the two countries, with UDA and CNDD-FDD agreeing to cooperate and learn from each other on Party building," the statement added.

According to UDA, during the meeting, Ndikuriyo conveyed a message of gratitude for the hospitality extended to Burundian citizens who continue to live and work in Kenya.

The issue of undocumented Burundian nationals was also discussed, with Omar assuring the CNDD-FDD Secretary General that the government was committed to addressing their status through regularisation and the issuance of the necessary work permits.

"On the evolving situation involving undocumented Burundian nationals, Sen. Hassan reassured Hon. Ndikuriyo of the Government's commitment to regularise their stay, with the necessary work permits to be issued within a 90-day period," the statement further read.

President William Ruto directed the government to undertake a 90-day regularisation exercise for foreign nationals conducting business in Kenya.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 8, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said the directive follows an engagement between the President and Kenyan traders, during which traders raised concerns about the impact of foreign participation in informal businesses on Kenyans.

Mohamed said the President had reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to protecting economic opportunities for Kenyans while also safeguarding the rights of foreign nationals who are lawfully residing and conducting business in the country.

"The President reaffirmed the Government’s responsibility to protect and expand economic opportunities for Kenyan citizens, particularly within the micro and small-enterprise sector that sustains millions of households. 

"He equally affirmed the Government’s duty to safeguard the rights and legitimate interests of foreign nationals who are lawfully resident, employed, investing or conducting business in Kenya," the statement read.

In the interim, all foreign nationals conducting business in Kenya will be required to ensure that they comply with immigration, work-permit, registration and licensing requirements. 

The government will use the 90-day period to facilitate those who need to regularise their status and business operations.

"In the meantime, every person conducting business in Kenya is required to comply with applicable immigration, work-permit, registration and licensing requirements. Over the next 90 days, the Government will conduct an orderly regularisation exercise to facilitate compliance.

"The process will be coordinated by the relevant Government agencies, in consultation with the embassies concerned, to provide affected persons with a clear and structured opportunity to regularise their immigration status and business operations in accordance with the law," the statement read.

Mohamed said the relevant agencies would provide guidance and ensure that the regularisation process is implemented fairly and without discrimination before enforcement measures are tightened after the 90-day period.

"During this period, the responsible Government agencies will provide the necessary guidance and administer the applicable requirements fairly, consistently and without discrimination. At the conclusion of the 90-day regularisation period, immigration, work-permit, registration and licensing requirements will be enforced firmly and strictly in accordance with the law and due process," the statement added.