Ruto Orders Shutdown of Foreign-Owned Small Businesses

On Wednesday, Kenyan President William Ruto ordered the shutdown of small retail businesses owned by foreign nationals, effective next Monday. He instructed the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry to enforce this directive, emphasizing the need to protect Kenyan traders from unfair competition.

Ruto stated, “There are businesses that are meant for Kenyans,” and indicated that administrative actions would be taken without waiting for the Local Content Bill, which aims to reserve certain small-scale businesses for Kenyan citizens. The bill, introduced in 2025, seeks to ensure that at least 60 percent of goods and services are sourced locally.

Ruto's strategy focuses on attracting major foreign investments to strengthen the economy while safeguarding local livelihoods. This move aligns Kenya with other African nations, like Tanzania and Ghana, that have imposed similar restrictions on foreign operators in small businesses.