Kenya has clarified its stance regarding foreigners engaged in small-scale trade, stating that recent measures aim to regulate their participation and ensure compliance with immigration, work permit, registration, and licensing requirements, rather than imposing a complete ban on foreign business operations.
At a press conference in Nairobi on Thursday, Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi announced that the directives issued by President William Ruto on September 2 are intended to protect vulnerable sectors of the economy, promote fair competition, and secure livelihoods for Kenyan citizens.
Mudavadi emphasized that these measures do not constitute an all-encompassing ban for foreigners involved in small businesses. He stated: 'Kenya is open to foreign trade, both small and large scale, provided they comply with immigration, work permit, registration, and licensing requirements.'
This clarification comes amid uncertainty among foreign traders, especially those operating in small shops, market stalls, and other informal enterprises. Under the new measures, foreign traders must possess the necessary immigration and work documentation, and their business must be properly registered and licensed to operate legally.
The government characterized this approach as regulatory, not discriminatory, confirming that foreigners who adhere to Kenyan laws have the right to protection of their rights.
Furthermore, this clarification coincides with Kenya opening a window for the registration and documentation of undocumented citizens of the East African Community (EAC), including Burundian nationals residing in the country. The government strongly urged undocumented EAC citizens to appear at their respective high missions or embassies for official identity registration and to cooperate with Kenyan authorities to legalize their status.