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Rwandese artiste records eviction song as Ruto directive leaves him fearing he may flee Kenya
12th September, 2026 04:17 AM
A Rwandese artiste who says he was beaten, robbed and left without his belongings amid heightened tensions surrounding President William Ruto’s directive on foreign traders has taken his fears of leaving Kenya to the recording studio, where he has turned his experience into an emotional song.
The artiste went to the studio to record the song with producer and artiste Jim Kaka, using the session to recount what he says happened to him and the difficulties he has faced as a foreigner in Kenya.
In the song, he begins by reflecting on his arrival in Nairobi and the welcome he says he received before contrasting it with the painful experience he says he has since gone through.
“Nairobi, sitawahi kusahau. Nilikuja Nairobi, wakanikaribisha, wakaniambia, ‘Karibu Kenya.’ Lakini saa hii nimetolewa na viboko. Nairobi, sitawahi kusahau,” he sings.
The lyrics capture his conflicting feelings towards Nairobi, with the artiste recalling how he was welcomed when he arrived before saying that he has now been beaten.
He then interrupts the recording to ask Jim Kaka to repeat the section about Nairobi, apparently seeking to get the part right before proceeding with the song.
“Ama turudie hiyo part ya Nairobi ndiyo mwisho. Turudie iliyo sawa. Nataka kurudia hiyo part ya Nairobi,” he tells the producer.
The artiste proceeds with another painful account, saying he has lost all his money and that his phone was also taken, leaving him without the fare he needs to travel back home.
“Na nimenyanganywa pesa zangu zote. Simu yangu wamechukua. Mungu nisaidie nifike kwetu, aisee sina fare ya kufika sasa hivi,” he sings.
His plea to God for help in reaching home becomes one of the most striking parts of the recording, with the artiste saying he does not have even the money required to make the journey.
He later speaks about the beating, saying he returned home feeling unwell and directly addresses Ruto as he reflects on his experience.
“Nimepigwa na sasa nimeenda nyumbani nikisikia vibaya juu yako, Ruto. Wacha niseme ni sawa tu ilivyo,” he says.
The account appears to concern Jim Kaka, who reacts after listening to the lyrics and the story the artiste is putting into the song.
The producer’s reaction prompts the artiste to explain further what he believes has contributed to the hostility he says he has experienced in Kenya.
“And the thing is that I am Rwandese, actually, but following the directive against foreigners, I have faced a lot of hostility,” he says.
He then gives a more detailed account of what he says happened shortly before the studio session.
“Just a day ago I was beaten because I am a foreigner and my mkokoteni was taken,” he says.
Moment of anxiety
The artiste’s account comes at a time when anxiety has been mounting among foreign nationals operating small businesses in Kenya, with some already considering leaving the country following the government directive.
The uncertainty has been particularly visible among foreign traders who fear that the new measures could disrupt the businesses and livelihoods they have built in Kenya, with some beginning to make plans to return to their countries of origin.
The tension reached a striking point after hundreds of Burundians gathered at their embassy in Nairobi seeking travel documents as concerns over their future in Kenya intensified.
Some of those seeking the documents said they wanted to return home amid fears over possible enforcement of the directive and growing concerns about their safety.
The rush for travel documents came against a backdrop of heightened anxiety among foreign nationals involved in informal and small-scale trade, with the government’s announcement initially being interpreted by some as a sign that they could soon be forced out of the businesses they had established in Kenya.
The situation has also raised fears of a wider exodus of foreign traders who may choose to leave the country rather than risk losing their businesses or facing confrontation as enforcement of the new rules takes shape.
The government, however, has moved to reassure foreign nationals that the directive does not amount to a blanket order for foreigners to leave Kenya.
Instead, authorities have announced a 90-day window during which affected foreign nationals can regularise their immigration status and business operations, including obtaining the necessary work permits, registrations and licences.
Author
Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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