Kenyan president William Ruto orders crackdown on foreigners operating small businesses

Kenyan President William Ruto has ordered a crackdown on foreigners operating small-scale businesses in the country, saying local traders and hawkers must be protected.

Ruto made the announcement on Wednesday, September 2, while addressing small-scale traders at State House in Nairobi.

“From next week, all [foreign] traders doing those small businesses should close them,” he said, adding that his government would fast-track legislation restricting foreigners from certain areas of trade.

The president said Kenya remained open to foreign investment but argued that foreign investors, including Chinese traders, should create jobs and expand opportunities for Kenyans rather than compete with them in small businesses.

“It cannot be that a person comes from China or elsewhere to be a hawker or open a small shop,” he said.

The exact number of foreigners involved in small-scale trading and how many would be affected by the proposed crackdown remains unclear.

Kenya hosts thousands of migrants and refugees who work in various sectors, including salons, construction, motorbike transport, street vending and small retail businesses.

The move comes amid growing tensions between some local traders and foreign nationals, with locals accusing migrants of competing for limited jobs and business opportunities.