Why Kenya dey crackdown on foreign traders and small retailers

Kenya don begin enforce measures wey go limit foreign nationals from operating some small-scale businesses, for di middle of growing concern from neighbouring countries.

President William Ruto wey announce di move last week, tok say businesses like hawking and small retail suppose dey reserved for Kenyans.

E say foreign investment dey welcome in activities wey require greater capital, but make foreigners no compete wit Kenyans for small-scale trade.

Na Monday, 7 September, Oga Ruto set as deadline for foreigners wey dey operate small-scale businesses for di kontri to stop dey operate.

Ahead of di move, di Burundian embassy for Kenya don tok say dem go offer emergency free travel documents to dia citizens wey wish to return to di kontri, as tori full ground say Burundians dey face maltreatment.

E neva dey clear how many foreign nationals dey operate small-scale trading or how many di crackdown go affect.

But di govment don since try to clarify wetin di measures mean for foreign nationals' wey already dey work and do business for Kenya.

Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui for statement tok say some foreigners don dey misuse di tourist and investor status to engage for activities wey dey outside di terms of dia visas.

For inside one statement, di trade ministry tok say some visitors dey "deliberately misuse dia visa applications", and e add say some foreigners enta Kenya as investors or tourists but dem later involve for business activities wey dey against dia declared status.

"Visa-free entry or exemption from eTA requirements no in itself guarantee di right to engage in employment, trade or business for Kenya," di statement read.

"Owing to di high number of foreigners involved in di retail and local trade sectors, need dey to align dia activities and ensure compliance wit work permit provisions," Trade Minister Lee Kinyanjui add.

Kenya govment say foreigners wey dey work or trade for Kenya must get di appropriate work permits and licences, and dem fit withdraw di visas of dos de see say breach di immigration rules.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei also say pipo take di president comment out of context.

For one post on X, e say President Ruto bin dey respond to di ongoing debate on di Local Content Bill, wey currently dey bifor di Parliament.

"We assure say small or large traders and employees of all nationalities, wey get di correct documentation ,work permits and licences dey legally protected to operate for Kenya."

Wetin President Ruto tok

Last week, Ruto tok say Kenya remain open to foreign investment, but e no fit happun say "one pesin go come from China or anoda kontri and begin hawk or open small shop" for di kontri.

E argue say make investors create jobs and expand production instead of to dey compete wit Kenyans wey dey run small businesses.

Ruto comments bin spark mixed reactions, as some critics describe dem as a populist move wey fit stoke di fire of xenophobia.

Govment officials deny di allegation.

Burundi Foreign Affairs Minister Edouard Bizimana for inside one post on X tok say "Kenyans for Burundi dey live peacefully but if di hate speech against Burundi continue things go surely change".

"Kenya govment dey responsible for di lives of Burundians wey dey live for Kenya," e add.

Bizimana post bin follow one urgent meeting wey e hold wit representatives of di East African Community (EAC), one eight-member bloc wey dey promote economic integration for di region.

Both Kenya and Burundi na part of di group. Kenyan representatives attend di meeting wey Bizimana arrange for Burundi.

Bizimana say im don ask Kenyan ambassador to explain to im govment, Burundi concerns and to ensure say dem no subject any Burundian to abuse.

On Sunday, one top official for Kenya foreign affairs ministry say foreigners, wey get di required documentation, including "work permits and licences", fit continue dia activities.

"Burundian nationals and all East Africans - and Africans for dat matter - dey free to live in Kenya as long as dem carry out dia businesses or work according to di requirements of our laws, Permanent Secretary Korir Sing'oei tok.

Di govment clarification, however, no to ease concerns among some foreign traders.

Alexis Ntinanirwa, di head of di Association of Burundians living in Kenya, tell BBC Great Lakes service say im no happy wit Ruto decision, but e urge Burundians to remain patient.

E warn say di issue fit get wider regional consequences becos Kenyans also dey don small-scale businesses for oda East African countries.

"Dis issue no go only cause problems for Burundians wey dey work for Kenya, e go also cause problems for di region becos some Kenyans also dey do these small jobs for our countries for Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda."

Ntinanirwa advise Burundians wey dey hawk and do oda small businesses to avoid confrontation wit police.