The <a4j:status>
is referenced by name. Since all your statuses have the same name all of them are being called. You need to give each one a unique name, like this:
<rich:list value="#{identity.user.roleList}" var="_role" rowKeyVar="rk">
<a4j:region>
<h:inputText value="#{bean.text}">
<a4j:ajax status="y#{rk}" event="keyup" />
</h:inputText>
<a4j:status id="x" name="y#{rk}">
<f:facet name="start">
<h:graphicImage name="img/load_small.gif" />
</f:facet>
</a4j:status>
</a4j:region>
</rich:list>