Kenyans in various cities of the United Kingdom have been called upon to exercise caution as they go about their day-to-day business.
On Sunday, August 4, Foreign affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei expressed his concern for the ongoing anti-immigrants’ protests in various parts of the country.
Moreover, he stated that the situation is worrying as the protests intensify leading to several injuries that have been reported.
“A deeply worrying situation in the UK. Kenyans are urged to exercise caution,” he stated.
Also Read: Kenyan Installed as Mayor in Northern Ireland Clarifies Why She Got Refugee Status
Cause of the Protests in UK
Hundreds of anti-immigrant protestors are rioting after receiving information of a knife attack against three children.
However, Reuters reported that the rioters received false information that spread rapidly on social media over the attack.
The reports indicated that three children were attacked at a children’s dance class in Southport, a seaside town in England, by a radical Muslim migrant. Although police said that the suspect, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, was born in Britain.
Nonetheless, violent anti-immigration and anti-Muslim protests have continued, with rioters throwing chairs, flares, and bricks at the police.
By Sunday, August 4, about 150 people carrying English flags chanted, “You’re not English anymore” in Leeds while opposing groups shouted “Nazi scum off our streets”
Police officers who attempted to calm the unrest formed barriers between rival protest groups, which led to two officers from Liverpool being hospitalized with suspected facial fractures.
At the same time, in Sunderland, chief police superintendent Mark Hall reported four injured police officers were taken to hospital and 12 people were arrested. Police and civilians alike have sustained injuries from the protests, as businesses are looted and vandalized.
Similar scenes have been witnessed in the southwestern city of Bristol, in Belfast, where businesses were set on fire, Southport and various areas across the UK.
Newly appointed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the wave of violence although they are predicted to continue across different cities in England.
Also Read: What you Should Know About Moving to UK After 2024 Changes
UK Makes Changes to Reduce Immigrants Including Kenyans
In December 2023, the United Kingdom (UK) Home Secretary James Cleverly announced changes in the regulations for immigrants from different countries in the world to reduce migration levels and stop the abuse of the immigration system.
To accomplish this, the Home Secretary announced that the government would raise the minimum salary requirements for both overseas workers and British or settled individuals sponsoring family members.
Additionally, the government stated that it would tighten the criteria for the Health and Care visa, which would prevent a substantial number of care workers and their dependents from obtaining visas.
At the same time, in April 2022, the government said that any asylum seeker entering the UK “illegally” after January 1, 2022, from a safe country such as France, would be sent to Rwanda.
They would have their asylum claims processed there, rather than in the UK. If successful, they could be granted refugee status and allowed to stay in the landlocked east-central African country.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel for real-time news updates
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaB3k54HltYFiQ1f2i2C
