Mungatana condemns anti-Burundi sentiments, calls for action against xenophobia

Kenya’s delegation to the Pan-African Parliament chairperson Dan Mungatana has condemned reported anti-Burundi sentiments and actions in parts of the country, warning that harassment of Burundian nationals undermines Kenya’s commitment to Pan-Africanism and regional integration.

Mungatana said reported incidents targeting Burundian nationals, particularly in Nakuru, should not be tolerated in a country that promotes free movement, trade and cooperation among African states.

“Kenya must not become a country where fellow Africans are harassed, intimidated or targeted because of their nationality.”

Mungatana said the issue goes beyond Kenya’s domestic affairs, arguing that hostility towards African nationals contradicts the principles underpinning the Pan-African project and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“As Head of the Kenya Delegation to the Pan-African Parliament, I consider this matter not merely a Kenyan domestic issue, but one that touches the very foundation of the Pan-African project.”

He said Kenya’s participation in AfCFTA, including its role in the Guided Trade Initiative, should be matched by policies and actions that encourage Africans to trade and invest across borders.

“We cannot, on the one hand, call for Africans to trade with one another while, on the other hand, creating an atmosphere of hostility towards African traders who come to Kenya.”

Mungatana said Africa’s economic future depends on greater intra-African trade rather than divisions between citizens of different countries.

“This is the Africa we should be building: a Kenya that sells to Ghana, a Ghana that sells to Kenya, a Burundi that trades with Kenya, and an Africa where Africans are able to create prosperity together.”

He also pointed to his recent motion at the Pan-African Parliament calling for stronger measures against xenophobic violence targeting African nationals in South Africa.

“That motion was grounded in a simple principle: an African is an African, whether that African is in Nairobi, Johannesburg, Bujumbura, Accra, Lagos or anywhere else on our continent.”

Mungatana said Kenya would be contradicting its own position on xenophobia if it condemned attacks against Kenyans abroad while remaining silent over hostility directed at other Africans within its borders.

“It would therefore be completely contradictory for us to condemn xenophobia when it happens to Kenyans or other Africans abroad, while remaining silent when fellow Africans face hostility here in Kenya.”

He called on the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and national security agencies to investigate the reported incidents and establish whether individuals organised, incited or participated in unlawful actions against Burundian nationals.

“The National Intelligence Service and the National Police Service should assist in identifying the organisers and instigators, and those reasonably suspected of criminal conduct should be investigated and, where evidence warrants, brought before the appropriate authorities and courts of law.”

Mungatana said enforcement of immigration and business regulations should be undertaken through lawful government institutions rather than through mob action or intimidation.

“Where a person is operating without the required permit or licence, the remedy is the law.”

He said, “Where there is a breach of immigration law, the remedy is the law. Where there is a breach of business licensing requirements, the remedy is the law.”

“There can be no justification for mob action, threats, harassment, discrimination or vigilantism.”

He further urged Kenyans to distinguish between legitimate concerns over compliance with Kenyan laws and xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals.

“If there are genuine concerns about foreign nationals competing unfairly with Kenyan businesses, let those concerns be addressed through proper policy, licensing, taxation, immigration and labour enforcement and Let the law decide not the mob.”

Mungatana reminded Kenyans that Burundi is a member of the East African Community alongside Kenya and urged citizens not to allow economic frustrations or competition for business to fuel hostility between African communities.

“Burundi is not our enemy. Burundians are our brothers and sisters.”

He also appealed to Burundian nationals living and working in Kenya to comply with Kenyan laws while insisting that their nationality should not expose them to harassment or unlawful treatment.

“But equally, your nationality must never become a licence for another person to violate your dignity, threaten you, assault you, unlawfully take your property or destroy your lawful livelihood.”

Mungatana warned that the Pan-African vision would be difficult to achieve if Africans increasingly viewed one another as threats rather than economic partners.

“We need more African traders crossing borders.We need more African businesses investing in other African countries and we need Africans to see opportunity in one another rather than seeing one another as threats. The Pan-African dream cannot be achieved if Africans fear one another.”

He called on political leaders, the media, religious leaders, business organisations and civil society to reject xenophobia and promote peaceful coexistence.

“Africa must not turn against Africa and Kenya must lead by example.”

“Let us trade with Africa. Let us invest in Africa. Let us live together as Africans.”