Kenyans feel the gap left by departing Burundian traders and workers

One Nairobi resident wrote of a Burundian barber who had served him since 2021, “My Burundian barber who has been with me since 2021 left the country.[David Gichuru, Standard] In estates and street corners across Nairobi, a quieter, less-discussed consequence of President William Ruto's directive on undocumented foreign traders is playing out in daily disruptions for Kenyans who have suddenly lost access to service providers they had relied on for years.

Her family had depended on a Burundian boda boda rider since 2024 not just for the odd trip, but as a fixture of their daily routine.