In the bustling informal settlement of Kibera, Nairobi, the morning routine of small-scale commerce has been disrupted by a government directive that has left many foreign nationals fearing for their livelihoods. Last week, President William Ruto ordered authorities to shut down small-scale businesses operated by non-citizens, asserting that such opportunities should be reserved exclusively for Kenyans.
The mandate, which gave foreign traders until this week to comply, has created an atmosphere of uncertainty across the capital. At a local matatu terminal, manager James Mogaka reported an immediate impact on operations, noting that many minibus taxis are owned or driven by foreign nationals who are now too afraid to show up for work.
Mogaka highlighted the plight of one driver who is worried about his wife, a Burundian national who operates a fruit business, fearing that she might be targeted or forced to close her stall.
He noted the pervasive uncertainty, stating, "The guy is even afraid that people might come to chase away the wife. I really don't know where we are heading."
The policy arrives amid broader regional tensions regarding migration and foreign-owned enterprises, echoing similar restrictions in Tanzania and a resurgence of xenophobic violence in South Africa. While many affected individuals in Kenya expressed reluctance to speak on the record due to the palpable unease, the directive has drawn a divided response from the public.
Some local traders, such as Robert Kiberenge, have criticized the move, arguing that the government is merely attempting to distract from more pressing national issues and that there is no inherent conflict with foreigners operating small businesses.
Conversely, others, like graduate Kiprono Kutuny, support the president, contending that the government must protect Kenyan traders from what they perceive as cheap labor competition provided by foreign nationals.
Kenya, which serves as an economic hub for East Africa, is home to approximately 993,000 international migrants according to 2024 United Nations estimates. While the government maintains that the policy is necessary to support Kenyan traders in a crowded market, critics suggest it is a misguided approach. Economist Edward Kusewa argued that the directive is uncalled for and risks undermining the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which seeks to facilitate the movement of goods and people across borders.
Kusewa added that foreign traders contribute significantly to the economy through direct tax payments and that the crackdown could negatively affect Kenya's economic stability.
With elections scheduled for next year, the debate over business ownership is occurring against a backdrop of significant economic pressure. In a potential effort to mitigate the growing anxiety, the government announced on Tuesday that undocumented East African nationals will be granted 90 days to secure or update the necessary documentation required to legally reside and operate businesses in Kenya.
Despite this extension, many migrants—particularly those from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo—are already seeking assistance from their respective embassies to obtain travel documents, fearing the long-term consequences of the government's stance.
"Today they have not come. Their vehicles are not here," he says.
In Nairobi's central business district, the directive is drawing a mixed reaction.
