Kenya president orders crackdown on foreigners operating small businesses

Kenya’s President William Ruto has announced plans to crack down on foreigners operating small-scale businesses in the country. Ruto argued that local traders and hawkers need to be protected, as he wants to address growing concerns about the increasing number of African migrants involved in Kenya’s informal economy. He stated that foreign traders should close their small businesses from the following week and vowed to fast-track proposed legislation to restrict foreigners in certain areas of trade.

Ruto emphasized that Kenya welcomes foreign investment, but encouraged investors, including Chinese traders, to create jobs and expand production instead of competing with Kenyans in small businesses. The president made this announcement at State House in Nairobi during a meeting with small-scale traders who had come to discuss the issue with him.

Kenya hosts a large refugee population, with about 857,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers by the end of June. Some refugees live and work outside the country’s refugee camps, and Kenyan law allows them to work and operate businesses, but they need to obtain the appropriate documentation. Refugees in Nairobi and other major towns work in various sectors, causing tensions with local traders and workers who fear competition for jobs and business opportunities.

Despite potential controversy, Ruto's move comes amid broader concerns about xenophobia and tensions related to migration across Africa.