Kenya's President William Ruto orders crackdown on foreigners operating small businesses

Asia-Pacific Business Sat, 05 Sep 2026 10:33:14 GMT High confidence — 78/100

Kenya's President William Ruto has ordered a crackdown on foreigners operating small-scale businesses, saying local traders and hawkers need to be protected.
His announcement comes amid growing debate about the increasing number of African migrants involved in Kenya's vast informal economy.
"From next week, all [foreign] traders doing those small businesses should close them," he said, also promising to fast-track proposed legislation to preclude foreigners from certain areas of trade.

Kenya's President William Ruto has ordered a crackdown on foreigners operating small-scale businesses, saying local traders and hawkers need to be protected.
His announcement comes amid growing debate about the increasing number of African migrants involved in Kenya's vast informal economy.
"From next week, all [foreign] traders doing those small businesses should close them," he said, also promising to fast-track proposed legislation to preclude foreigners from certain areas of trade.

Sources: BBC News