RismadarVoice Reporters
September 8, 2026
The Kenyan government has given foreign workers 90 days to regularise their immigration and business status following concerns sparked by President William Ruto’s directive restricting foreigners from operating small businesses and engaging in street vending.
Kenya, a regional economic hub, attracts migrants from across the East African Community (EAC), whose citizens enjoy freedom of movement within the bloc.
However, President Ruto last week said foreigners should not operate as hawkers or run small shops, directing them to stop such activities by Monday.
“We have made efforts to improve the economy; we have not improved investor confidence for hawkers to come to Kenya,” Ruto said in a speech.
The directive triggered anxiety among foreign nationals, particularly Burundians involved in street vending in Nairobi.
On Monday, hundreds of Burundians reportedly visited their embassy in Nairobi seeking assistance to return home amid fears of possible xenophobic attacks.
The development came against the backdrop of reports of xenophobic violence in South Africa in recent months.
The Kenyan government subsequently moved to clarify the policy, saying its intention was to ensure that foreigners operating businesses in the country had the required permits and licences.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the office of the president said the government would conduct an “orderly regularisation exercise” over the next 90 days.
The exercise, it said, would ensure that foreign workers and business operators have the appropriate work permits and licences.
The government warned that after the 90 days, immigration regulations would be enforced “firmly and strictly in accordance with the law.”
Citizens of EAC member states are eligible for free work permits in Kenya, but many foreign workers have reportedly not completed the required registration process.
Burundi, which has a population of about 15 million, is a member of the EAC and remains one of the world’s poorest countries.
Reports also indicated that some Burundian nationals in Kenya had been attacked following the president’s initial directive.
Kenya’s junior Foreign Minister, Korir Sing’Oei, apologised to Burundians on Monday, saying some had been attacked by people within their communities because of what he described as a misunderstanding of the government’s position.
“Our main aim is to know how you are living, where you are, that you have identification, and that your jobs are registered,” Sing’Oei said.
