Hundreds of foreign nationals running small businesses in Kenya were thrown into panic after President William Ruto ordered a crackdown targeting them, according to Taifa Leo. The directive, issued on September 2 during a meeting with small business owners (MSMEs), reportedly triggered a rush for travel documents, closure of some businesses, and reports of threats and harassment, as foreigners interpreted it as an order to leave before the government clarified the operation's scope.

Kenyan President William Ruto has said his government is preparing a policy to end the export of raw minerals from the country, requiring companies to invest locally, add value to minerals and create jobs. Speaking in Samburu County, Ruto said he had personally intervened to halt mineral shipments from Magadi. He said the policy would cover all national resources, including oil, gold and rare minerals, declaring that Kenya would no longer sell unprocessed minerals abroad.

Members of Parliament from Kenya's Western region have presented President William Ruto with a list of demands they want addressed before backing his 2027 re-election bid, according to Taifa Leo. Their conditions include reserving the Deputy President position for a politician from Western Kenya in Ruto's second term, retaining the region's seat on the Parliamentary Service Commission, and completing stalled government projects. The MPs also want government intervention in the struggling sugar sector, resolution of education funding disputes, and electricity extended to underserved areas.

Kenyan President William Ruto is relying on Cabinet secretaries and other government officials to carry the government's message to grassroots communities in the Mount Kenya region, aiming to rebuild support ahead of the 2027 general election. According to Taifa Leo, the strategy seeks to highlight Kenya Kwanza's achievements and counter claims the region has been sidelined since Rigathi Gachagua's removal as deputy president in October 2024. Ruto has acknowledged communication shortcomings have allowed misinformation to spread.

The Kenyan government has clarified President William Ruto's directive targeting foreigners engaged in small-scale businesses. Government spokesperson Charles Owino said on September 7 that the measures aim to regulate informal trade and protect local livelihoods, not to ban East African nationals from the country. According to the government, the core intent is to protect vulnerable sectors of the economy rather than exclude foreign traders entirely.

Kenyan President William Ruto has issued a directive targeting foreign-owned small businesses, causing anxiety among traders across East Africa, particularly Ugandans operating in Kenya. According to NTV Kenya, civil society organisations have challenged the move as unconstitutional. Commentator Kiwala Caroline Tahir, writing for Watchdog Uganda, argues the directive should serve as a wake-up call for Uganda to strengthen its domestic business environment so that its traders can build sustainable enterprises at home rather than depending on opportunities abroad.