Kenya’s government has given foreign traders a 90-day regularisation window to comply with the country’s business rules, according to Eastleigh Voice. The outlet reported that once the period ends, authorities will firmly and strictly enforce immigration, work-permit, registration and licensing requirements in line with the law and due process. The warning applies to foreign traders operating under Kenya’s regulatory framework.

Kenyan President William Ruto has granted foreign nationals running businesses in the country, including Burundians, a 90-day window to regularise their immigration status and business operations. According to The Kenya Times, the directive is part of a government effort to tighten enforcement of rules governing small-scale trade. The move follows complaints from Kenyan traders about the increasing involvement of foreigners in small-scale businesses and the informal trade sector.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has warned against a blanket crackdown on foreign traders, saying enforcement of immigration, employment and business laws must comply with the Constitution. According to the Commission, such enforcement must be carried out without discrimination based on nationality, cautioning authorities against measures that unfairly target foreigners.

Kenya's government has moved to crack down on foreigners operating small-scale businesses without the required documentation, drawing renewed attention to the country's business environment. According to Business Today, the development links immigration and investment, two areas often discussed separately, with the government's clarification centred on the distinction between entering Kenya and being permitted to conduct business there. The report examines what the enforcement drive could mean for businesses and investors operating in the country.

Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, has clarified the country's visa and permit rules, warning that visa-free entry does not grant foreigners the right to work, trade or run businesses. According to Business Today, Kinyanjui said foreign nationals planning to take up employment or engage in business and other economic activities in Kenya must obtain the appropriate work visas and permits before doing so.

The Kenyan government has clarified recent directives affecting foreign workers engaged in small-scale trade, assuring that the measures are intended to facilitate their stay as immigrants. According to the Kenya News Agency, Government Spokesperson Charles Owino said the directives, issued by President William Ruto on September 2, 2026, are aimed at regulating small-scale retail and informal trade rather than targeting immigrants unfairly. The clarification follows public attention to the presidential directive and its implications for foreign traders operating in the country's informal sector.