Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has cautioned against the targeting of foreign nationals, affirming that the country remains open to traders and investors who operate within the law. According to Capital FM, Mudavadi dismissed suggestions that the government was imposing a blanket ban on foreign nationals, seeking to reassure compliant foreign traders that they are welcome to conduct business in Kenya.

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.

Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has clarified that the government has not imposed a ban on foreign small-scale traders, according to KBC. Mudavadi said a recent directive by President William Ruto is instead intended to ensure that foreign traders comply with the East African Community Common Market Protocol and Kenyan law. The clarification comes amid public discussion over the status of foreign nationals engaged in small-scale trading within the country.

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.

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.

Foreign traders in Kenya have been given 90 days to regularise their immigration status and business operations, according to KBC. The exercise will cover immigration documentation, work permits, business registration and licensing. Authorities say the grace period is intended to allow compliance before stricter enforcement measures begin targeting those who fail to meet the requirements.