Kenya’s Crackdown on Foreign Traders Sparks Unease

Nairobi, Kenya — In Kibera, one of the largest informal settlements in Nairobi, the morning hustle is underway. People hurry to work, and matatus, the public minibusses, are busy. Yet, for foreign nationals running small businesses, uncertainty looms.

President William Ruto has ordered the closure of small-scale businesses operated by foreigners. He argues these jobs should belong to Kenyans. With a compliance deadline looming, fear is spreading among migrant communities.

James Mogaka manages a crucial matatu terminal. He notes a decline in foreign-owned vehicle operations since the directive. “Their vehicles are absent,” he observes. One of his drivers, a Burundian national, now fears for his wife, who runs a fruit stall. “He’s worried she’ll be driven out,” Mogaka shares.

This government directive has deepened concerns among migrants about their income and safety. It’s part of a broader rise in tensions regarding foreign-owned businesses across Africa, with similar measures in Tanzania and xenophobic violence in South Africa escalating.

In Nairobi’s central business district, the directive has sparked mixed reactions. Local trader Robert Kiberenge criticizes it as a distraction from more urgent problems. “We welcome foreigners doing business here,” he states. Conversely, graduate Kiprono Kutuny supports the clampdown. “We need protection for local traders,” he insists, arguing that low-cost foreign labor undermines locals.

Kenya, East Africa’s economic powerhouse, prides itself on stability. The UN estimates 993,000 international migrants will reside in Kenya by 2024. The government claims the policy aids Kenyan traders in a competitive market. However, economist Edward Kusewa argues it’s misguided. “It contradicts the African Continental Free Trade Area’s goals,” he contends, warning of economic impacts.

With elections next year, Ruto faces growing tensions over job security. As foreign nationals seek assistance from their embassies, the government announced a 90-day period for undocumented East Africans to secure or update residency documents. Yet, apprehension persists about the future.