Adoa News Adoa News
Kenya’s Trade Ministry has issued a sharp warning to foreign nationals, asserting that visa-free entry privileges do not grant them the right to work or operate local businesses, as the government moves to shut down unlicensed small-scale traders across the country.
The warning coincides with a deadline set by President William Ruto requiring foreigners operating small-scale enterprises to immediately cease operations.
Trade Minister Lee Kinyanjui cited a “deliberate misuse of visa applications,” noting that many visitors entering Kenya under the guise of tourists or large-scale investors are illegally operating as local retailers and hawkers in violation of their visa status.
“Owing to the high number of foreigners involved in the retail and local trade sectors, there is a need to align their activities and ensure compliance with work permit provisions,” Kinyanjui stated.
President Ruto defended the policy, emphasizing that while Kenya remains open to foreign capital, foreign investors must expand local production and create jobs rather than compete directly with Kenyan citizens in micro-enterprises.
“It cannot be that a person comes from China or elsewhere to be a hawker or open a small shop,” Ruto argued.
Diplomatic Strain and Regional Backlash
The enforcement push has sparked significant friction within the East African Community (EAC), the eight-member regional bloc that champions free movement and economic integration.
In Burundi, Foreign Affairs Minister Edouard Bizimana summoned EAC representatives and Kenyan officials to address reports of mistreatment against Burundian nationals. The Burundian embassy in Nairobi has since offered free emergency travel documents to citizens choosing to repatriate.
“Kenyans in Burundi are living peacefully, but if the hate speech against Burundians continues, things will certainly change,” Bizimana posted on X, adding that the Kenyan government remains legally responsible for the safety of Burundian residents.
Community leaders have also warned of potential economic retaliation against Kenyan traders operating across East Africa. Alexis Ntinanirwa, head of the Association of Burundians Living in Kenya, urged nationals to avoid confrontations with law enforcement while warning of wider regional fallout.
“This issue is not only going to cause problems for Burundians working in Kenya,” Ntinanirwa noted. “It is going to cause problems in the region because there are also Kenyans doing these small jobs in Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda.”
Government Clarification
Attempting to cool diplomatic tension, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’oei clarified that the crackdown targets illegal operations, not foreign nationals possessing valid documentation.
“Burundian nationals and all East Africans and Africans for that matter are free to live in Kenya as long as they conduct their businesses or work according to the requirements of our laws,” Sing’oei said.
Despite the official reassurance, anxiety remains high among foreign business owners as local authorities begin enforcing compliance checks across retail centers nationwide.