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 directed that the Local Content Bill, 2025, be expanded to regulate foreign participation in small-scale trade, giving foreign traders 90 days as certain business activities are set to be reserved for Kenyan citizens. According to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, the move responds to complaints from local traders about the impact of foreign operators on micro and small enterprises in the informal sector.

Concerns about xenophobia are growing in Kenya following President William Ruto's order for a crackdown on foreigners working as hawkers. According to the Eastleigh Voice, the move has raised fears that foreign nationals could face discrimination or hostility. The Kenyan government has, however, insisted that foreign traders who are legally documented will remain protected under the law. The development has drawn attention to the treatment of migrant workers and traders in the country, as authorities balance enforcement measures with assurances of protection for those with valid documentation.

According to Tuko, Kenyan Senator Aaron Cheruiyot defended President William Ruto’s remarks about foreigners engaged in small businesses, calling for restraint as the comments drew controversy. The dispute centers on documentation requirements for foreign traders and broader questions of coexistence with local communities. Cheruiyot’s intervention sought to cool tensions while backing the president’s position, but the blurb provides no further detail on the exact wording of Ruto’s remarks or any policy changes.

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 Kenyan government has outlined new requirements targeting foreigners operating small businesses in the country, as it moves to enforce an order issued by President William Ruto, according to Soko Directory. The crackdown specifies which foreign nationals and business activities fall within its scope, though full details of the requirements were not provided in the initial report. The measures form part of broader efforts by the administration to regulate foreign participation in the small business sector.