Kenya gives foreign workers 90 days to formalise status

The Kenyan government has given foreign workers 90 days to formalise their status. This move comes after President William Ruto's recent directive targeting immigrant-owned small businesses, which had caused concern among foreign workers.

Ruto had ordered foreigners to stop hawking and operating small shops in the country, giving them a deadline to discontinue such activities. According to Daily Post Nigeria, Ruto said in a speech that efforts to improve the economy had not led to improved investor confidence for hawkers to come to Kenya.

The directive had triggered anxiety among foreign workers, particularly Burundians who depend on street vending for their livelihoods in Nairobi. Hundreds of Burundians reportedly gathered at their embassy seeking assistance to return home, amid fears that tensions could escalate into xenophobic attacks. The Kenyan government has since clarified its position, saying the objective was to ensure foreigners doing business had the necessary legal documentation rather than prevent them from working in the country.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch, Punch Nigeria, Daily Post Nigeria — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.