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On September 7, 2026, the Confederation of Trade Unions of Burundi (COSYBU) sent a letter to the Executive Secretariat of the East African Trade Union Confederation (EATUC), of which it is an affiliated member, regarding concerns and denunciation of measures targeting Burundian migrant workers operating in Kenya, particularly in the informal sector.

According to recent public statements made by Kenyan authorities, especially those concerning small traders, street vendors, security agents, laborers, and other foreign workers, measures are planned or being implemented to stop their activities and, in some cases, to proceed with their expulsion from Kenyan territory.

COSYBU is particularly concerned that these measures seem to target a category of workers based on their nationality and professional situation, even though many of the Burundian workers affected are citizens of an East African Community member state and contribute, through their work, to the Kenyan economy.

COSYBU’s Call to EATUC and ITUC-Africa

In view of the above, COSYBU is requesting the urgent intervention of the East African Trade Union Confederation and ITUC-Africa to:

1. Publicly express their concern to the Kenyan authorities regarding measures targeting Burundian migrant workers and other migrant workers from the region;
2. Ask the Kenyan government to suspend any collective or indiscriminate expulsion measures targeting migrant workers from EAC member states;
3. Require that any expulsion measure be taken on an individual basis, in accordance with the law, after examining the personal, family, and administrative situation of each person concerned and with access to the appropriate means of appeal;
4. Call for respect for the rights of migrant workers, including the payment of wages, benefits, and other accrued rights before any departure from the territory;
5. Ask the Kenyan Government to fully respect the EAC Treaty and the Common Market Protocol, especially the provisions regarding the free movement of workers and non-discrimination;
6. Encourage urgent dialogue between trade unions from Burundi and Kenya, as well as with the competent authorities, to find a solution that respects workers’ rights and Kenya’s legitimate interests;
7. Where appropriate, engage the relevant mechanisms of the EAC, the African Union, and the ILO so that this situation is reviewed within the framework of Kenya’s regional and international obligations;
8. Set up a regional trade union mechanism to monitor the situation of Burundian migrant workers and other workers from EAC member states affected by these measures.

Attachment: Letter addressed to EATUC