STANDING WITH BURUNDIANS || KENYAN ACTIVISTS ARRESTED WHILE DEFENDING BURUNDIANS RELEASED

Duration: 8:29 1071 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

The video transcript highlights a powerful protest by Kenyan activists defending Burundians and other foreigners who have been targeted for deportation or harassment under the current administration. The speakers challenge President William Ruto directly, questioning his claim of being a pan-African leader while simultaneously supporting policies that drive out fellow Africans. They argue that there is no evidence of jobs created by Ruto's government being stolen by these individuals; instead, they point out that a young man from Burundi selling boiled eggs or a Ugandan herding cattle in Siaya are simply trying to survive and contribute to the local economy like any other citizen. The activists demand that if anyone is to be returned to their country, strict legal procedures must be followed, and they urge Ruto to apologize for his reckless behavior on the global stage. A central theme of the protest is a sharp critique of corruption and economic mismanagement within Kenya itself. The speakers assert that the root cause of unemployment and poverty in the country is not the presence of poor foreigners trying to make a living, but rather the wealthy, corrupt politicians who loot billions daily. They call on Ruto to stop blaming external groups for domestic failures and instead focus on stopping corruption, seizing assets from thieves, and using the recovered wealth to create genuine job opportunities for all Kenyans. The activists emphasize that as long as the issue of poverty caused by elite looting remains unaddressed, tensions with foreign nationals will not resolve, and the country will continue to suffer. The transcript also details the legal battle faced by the protesters after their arrest during the demonstration. The activists describe enduring mental torture while sleeping in police cells overnight before being brought to court, a practice they condemn as a habitual abuse of power by law enforcement. They successfully argued that the charges against them were malicious and defective, leading to the case falling flat on its face once their lawyers exposed the police misconduct. Despite winning the legal battle, the group expresses deep sadness over reports that foreigners are being attacked by Kenyans while they are detained, questioning where the nation is heading if citizens turn on vulnerable neighbors. Ultimately, the video concludes with a strong call to action for the state and its leadership to stop testing the patience of the people and to respect the constitution above all else. The protesters insist that police officers are not above the law and must be reined in to ensure they follow constitutional procedures rather than using arrests as a tactic to silence dissent. By uniting under the slogan "Unite Africa," the activists seek to foster solidarity among African nations and within Kenya itself, urging leaders to prioritize unity and justice over xenophobia and corruption. The message is clear: true progress requires addressing systemic poverty and holding those in power accountable rather than scapegoating marginalized communities.

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We are demanding if that if there is any decision to return any national to their country, let the procedure laid down procedures, laws be followed. We do not understand how a young man from Burundi selling boiled egg in Kenya has taken jobs that Ruto created. Which job did Ruto create that a young man from Uganda herding cattle in Siaya has taken away? We don't understand how a young Somali national operating a shop in Somalia has taken away a job that Ruto created. Which job have Ruto created that foreigners have taken away? Which job? Let Ruto come and tell us which job he has created for Kenyans that now foreigners have taken away. Secondly, Ruto has been masquerading across the world that he is a pan-African. We want him to come out and apologize to the world for operating and behaving recklessly. And we say, "Unite Africa." Unite. >> Unite. >> Viva comrades, viva. Viva comrades, viva. So, I would want to challenge Mr. William Ruto. If you are serious about solving the unemployment crisis in this country, what you should do is stop corruption, expropriate the thieves, and use the recovered wealth to create job opportunities for all Kenyans. You shouldn't blame Burundians selling eggs. You shouldn't blame Ugandans working as house managers in Kenya for your failures. Viva comrades, viva. So, we want to challenge the state. Stop testing our patience. At two So, thank you. We are from the courts. Uh the case has fallen flat on its face. Uh because it was a a malicious charge uh by the police. Yeah, they've been exposed and our lawyer our lawyers have argued beautifully. Uh it was good. Uh but still as uh John Minor Degwa was uh asking the court uh we slept in the cells the whole night. Uh we we we we gone through mental torture. Uh that's true and it it has become a a a a habit for the police to arrest protesters and uh bring them to court, take them to the cells, bring produce them to court, that nonsense, blah blah blah. We don't want uh to see police usurping the constitution. They're not above the constitution. We must uh rein them in and uh make them follow the constitution. Another thing, we were protesting about the issue of uh the foreigners who are being chased away from Kenya. And while we were locked inside Central Police Station uh we have heard reports, some have been documented that uh these foreigners are being attacked by Kenyans. I feel so sad for that because where are we heading as a country? I think the biggest problem in this country is not uh the poor foreigners uh uh who are living amongst us uh trying to eke out a living like any other poor person. The problem with this country is the rich people, the corrupt people who are in power, politicians who loot billions of money daily uh uh so making Kenyans uh hopeless and poor in our own country. Unless we address the issue of poverty these things are not going to go away. So, wamekuwa korokoroni kama masaa kumi. Tume weza kuwa hapa kotini. Those charges magistrates >> We are demanding if that if there's any decision to return any national to their country let the procedure laid down procedures laws be followed. We do not understand how a young man from Burundi selling boiled egg in Kenya has taken job that Ruto created. Which job did Ruto create that a young man from Uganda having cattle in Siaya has taken away? We don't understand how a young Somali national operating a shop in Somali has taken away a job that Ruto created. Which job have Ruto created that foreigners have taken away? Which job? Let Ruto come and tell us which job he has created for Kenyans that now foreigners have taken away. Secondly, Ruto has been masquerading across the world that he's a pan-African. We want him to come out and apologize to the world for operating and behaving recklessly. And we say, "Unite Africa, unite." >> Unite. >> Thank you. >> Viva comrades, viva. >> Viva. >> Viva comrades, viva. >> Viva. >> So, I would want to challenge Mr. William Ruto. If you are serious about solving the unemployment crisis in this country, what you should do is stop corruption, expropriate the thieves, and use the recovered wealth to create job opportunities for all Kenyans. You eggs. You shouldn't blame Ugandans working as house managers in Kenya for your failures. Otherwise Viva. So, you want to challenge the state. Stop testing our patience. >> We are from the court. The case has fallen flat on its face because it was a malicious charge by the police. Yeah, they've been exposed and our our lawyers have argued beautifully. It was good. But still as John Minor Degu was asking the court, we slept in the cells the whole night. We we go through mental torture. That's true and it it has become a habit for the police to arrest protesters and uh bring them to court, take them to the cells, then produce them to court. That nonsense, blah blah blah. We don't want to see police usurping the constitution. They are not above the constitution. We must rein them in and make them follow the constitution. Another thing, we were protesting about the issue of the foreigners who are being chased away from Kenya. And while we were locked inside Central Police Station, uh we have had reports, some have been documented that these foreigners are being attacked by Kenyans. I feel so sad for that because where are we heading as a country? I think the biggest problem in this country is not the poor foreigners uh who are living amongst us trying to eke out a living like any other poor person. The problem with this country is the rich people, the corrupt people who are in power, politicians who loot billions of money daily are so making Kenyans hopeless and poor in our own country. Unless we address the issue of poverty, these things are not going to go away. >> Viva comrades, viva. >> things are not going to go >> Fever come, fever. >> Those charges magistrate are defective. are not going to police are not are not