Kenyan president orders crackdown on foreigners operating small businesses

What the report says

Kenya’s President William Ruto has ordered a crackdown on foreigners operating small-scale businesses, saying local traders and hawkers should be protected. Speaking in Nairobi at a meeting with small traders on Wednesday, he said foreigners doing such work should close those businesses from next week and said he wanted legislation moved quickly to bar non-Kenyans from certain kinds of trade.

BBC Africa reported that Ruto framed the move as compatible with continued foreign investment, but said investors should focus on creating jobs and expanding production rather than competing with Kenyans in small retail activity. The comments appeared to reflect growing domestic debate over the number of African migrants and other foreigners active in Kenya’s informal economy, including in street vending, salons, barber shops, construction and motorbike taxis.

The article said it is not clear how many foreign nationals would be affected. It also noted that Kenya hosts a large refugee population, and that refugees can work or run businesses if they obtain the proper permits. In general, the issue touches on a wider tension seen in some African countries between economic openness and pressure from local workers who say migrants are competing for scarce opportunities.

BBC Africa said the policy shift is likely to be controversial because Kenya is a regional commercial hub and because similar anti-migrant sentiment has also surfaced elsewhere on the continent.