NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenyan government has firmly denied imposing a blanket ban on foreign nationals engaging in small-scale trade. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi clarified that the nation is instead strictly enforcing existing immigration, work-permit, and business regulations to protect local livelihoods while maintaining regional trade and integration.
Speaking to the diplomatic core in Nairobi, Mudavadi sought to address the growing debate over the participation of foreign nationals in small-scale business. He emphasized that directives announced by President William Ruto on September 2 should be understood as targeted measures aimed at protecting vulnerable sectors of the economy, promoting fair competition, and safeguarding the livelihoods of Kenyan citizens.
“Foreign nationals who meet Kenya’s legal requirements remain free to engage in trade,” Mudavadi stated. He appealed to citizens of partner states to comply with the laws governing their rights of entry, stay, and provision of services within Kenyan jurisdiction, noting that expecting legal compliance is a standard global practice.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary stressed that foreigners doing business in Kenya are expected to adhere to national regulations, including immigration, work permit registration, and licensing requirements. He described Kenya’s approach as fundamentally regulatory rather than discriminatory, adding that the same principle of legal compliance applies to Kenyans living and doing business across the East African region.
Reaffirming the country’s commitment to the free movement of people, capital, goods, and services within existing legal frameworks, Mudavadi also issued a stern warning against any backlash targeting foreign nationals or their businesses.
Kenya has a long history of hosting refugees and migrants fleeing instability elsewhere in the region. However, this regional attractiveness is now facing a new test. For the government, the ongoing challenge is increasingly about finding a delicate balance: protecting economic opportunities for its own citizens while keeping its doors open to regional trade and integration.
