President William Ruto, my brother and good friend SIR, the emerging signs of xenophobia against fellow East Africans in parts of urban Kenya are deeply concerning and inconsistent with the spirit of a modern, democratic and integrated East Africa.
The EAC framework is founded on the progressive free movement of people, goods, services and capital. Where individuals are found to be in violation of national immigration or other laws, enforcement should be orderly, lawful, humane and free from collective punishment or hostility towards any nationality.
I urge the East African Community leadership to engage Kenya, Burundi and other Partner States urgently to address these concerns through dialogue and established regional mechanisms.
At the same time, Burundi faces serious economic pressures that are pushing some of its citizens to seek opportunities elsewhere. I appeal to the Government of Burundi to intensify measures addressing these economic hardships.
Our region must choose cooperation over xenophobia, lawful enforcement over mob action, and economic integration over division. East Africans should never become strangers to one another in East Africa.
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