Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, has defended the government’s decision to give foreign workers and business operators 90 days to regularise their immigration and business documents, insisting that the policy is not discriminatory.
The move followed remarks by President William Ruto concerning immigrant-owned small businesses, which triggered anxiety among foreign nationals living and working in Kenya.
The government has since sought to reassure affected communities, stressing that the new directive does not amount to a blanket ban on foreigners participating in small-scale businesses.
Mudavadi said Kenya remained open to both small and large-scale commercial activities by foreign nationals, provided they comply with the country’s immigration, work-permit, registration and licensing requirements.
“Kenya is not implementing a blanket ban on foreign nationals engaging in small scale business, but is seeking to ensure that their participation is consistent with the East African Community Common Market Protocol and applicable national law,” Mudavadi said.
He added that the government’s approach was regulatory rather than discriminatory.
The controversy had raised fears of possible hostility towards foreign nationals, particularly amid concerns about xenophobic attacks experienced in South Africa.
Kenyan authorities have moved to calm those fears, insisting that the exercise is intended to bring foreign businesses and workers into compliance with existing regulations.
The announcement caused particular concern among Burundian nationals who earn their livelihoods through street trading and other small businesses in Nairobi.
Earlier in the week, hundreds of Burundians reportedly visited their embassy in Nairobi amid fears over their status and some considered returning home.
Following the concerns, Kenya’s junior foreign minister apologised over the confusion generated by the earlier announcement.
The Kenyan presidency subsequently announced that authorities would carry out an “orderly regularisation exercise” over the next 90 days to ensure foreign nationals operating businesses or working in the country possess the necessary documentation.
The government said the exercise would focus on compliance with immigration, work-permit, business registration and licensing requirements.
