Kenya Clarifies EAC Trade Policy, Launches Registration for Undocumented Nationals

What the report says

Kenya has opened a formal registration and documentation window for undocumented East African Community nationals living and working in the country, according to SoftPower News. The announcement was made in Nairobi by Government Spokesperson Charles Owino as the government moved to address concerns that had grown after President William Ruto’s directive involving foreigners in small-scale trade.

The policy clarification is meant to guide affected EAC nationals and ease uncertainty around who may continue operating in Kenya’s informal business sector. SoftPower News reported that the government framed the process as a documentation exercise for those who are already in the country without proper papers, rather than an immediate blanket removal. The article does not provide the duration of the registration period or detailed eligibility rules.

The development matters because Kenya is a major destination for workers and traders from neighboring EAC states, and changes in enforcement can affect cross-border livelihoods and regional trade flows. In general, EAC members have long discussed freer movement of people and goods, but national immigration and trade enforcement can still create tensions when policy is tightened or clarified. SoftPower News said the government was responding to public anxiety, but did not report any final outcome beyond the launch of the registration window.