Kenya Gives Foreign Workers 90 Days — See What Happens Next

Kenya has given foreign workers 90 days to regularise their immigration and business status, following confusion triggered by President William Ruto's directive targeting immigrant-owned small businesses. The government's latest position appears aimed at easing concerns after Ruto last week said foreigners were not permitted to operate as hawkers or run small shops, giving them until Monday to stop such activities. Kenya, a major economic hub in East Africa, attracts migrants from across the East African Community, whose citizens enjoy freedom of movement within the regional bloc. '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 sparked anxiety among foreign nationals, particularly Burundians who earn a living through street vending in Nairobi. It was widely viewed as an attempt to rally support among Kenyan hawkers ahead of next year's elections. On Monday, hundreds of Burundians reportedly visited their embassy in Nairobi seeking to return home, amid fears that Kenya could experience xenophobic violence similar to incidents recently reported in South Africa. The Kenyan government has now clarified that its intention was to ensure foreigners were not operating businesses illegally, rather than to prevent them from working or running legitimate enterprises.