Kenya's trade ministry has warned foreign nationals that visa‑free entry into the country does not grant them the right to work, as the government vows to shut down unlicensed small businesses run by foreigners.
The president set today as the deadline for foreigners operating small‑scale businesses to cease work. The government will enforce a crackdown against those who misuse their visa status to engage in commercial activities without licences.
In response, the Burundian embassy in Kenya offered to provide emergency free travel documents to its citizens who are willing to return home, amid reports of mistreatment of Burundians in Kenya.
The trade ministry said there was a deliberate misuse of visa applications by some visitors, who entered Kenya as investors or tourists but then took part in business activities in breach of their declared status. The ministry added that the high number of foreigners in retail and local trade requires better regulation and ensuring work‑permit compliance.
President Ruto called for continued openness to foreign investment but warned that a person from China or elsewhere should not be allowed to act as a hawker or open a small shop. He argued that investors should create jobs and expand production rather than compete with Kenyans in small businesses, a stance that drew mixed reactions and was accused by some of stoking xenophobia. Government officials denied that claim.
Burundi’s foreign affairs minister, Edouard Bizimana, posted on X that while Kenyans in Burundi lived peacefully, the ongoing hate speech could change the situation. He urged the Kenyan government to ensure that no Burundian was abused and asked the Kenyan ambassador to convey the concerns to his government. He said East African Community meetings were held to address the issue.
A top official in Kenya’s foreign‑affairs ministry confirmed that foreigners with the correct documentation—including work permits and licences—could continue their activities. Permanent Secretary Korir Sing’oei reassured that Burundian nationals and all East Africans could stay in Kenya if they complied with the law. Nevertheless, the government’s statement did little to ease concerns among foreign traders and the Burundian community. The head of the Association of Burundians living in Kenya, Alexis Ntinanirwa, urged Burundians to remain patient and avoid confrontations with police. He warned that the crackdown could have wider regional consequences for Kenyans working in Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda.
