Kenya's Ruto Targets Foreign Small Business Operators

President William Ruto announced on Wednesday afternoon at State House in Nairobi that Kenya will implement a crackdown on foreigners operating small businesses. This announcement comes amid increasing debate regarding the number of African migrants involved in Kenya's informal economy.

Ruto promised to fast-track proposed legislation to restrict foreigners from certain trade areas. While the exact number of foreign nationals engaged in small-scale trading is unclear, government figures indicate that Kenya had approximately 857,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers by the end of June, with nearly 14% residing in urban areas.

Kenyan law allows refugees to work and operate businesses, provided they obtain the necessary documentation. The presence of foreign traders has led to tensions with local workers, who accuse them of competing for limited job opportunities.

A recent incident involving a confrontation between a Kenyan man and a Burundian trader highlighted these tensions, prompting calls for protection of foreign nationals living in Kenya.