Kenyan President Ruto Implements Measures Against Foreign Traders
President William Ruto announced a crackdown on foreign nationals operating small businesses, mandating their departure by September 7. This directive has caused fear and hostility among foreign traders, particularly in Nairobi.
Sources
Ndaikech Ali, a Burundian tuk-tuk driver in Nairobi, expressed concerns over a recent presidential directive that requires foreign nationals operating small businesses to leave by September 7, leading to widespread panic and harassment among migrants. Many Burundians and other foreign nationals are now rushing to border crossings, facing potential separation from their families and economic insecurity, with reports indicating immediate impacts on individuals like a Kenyan woman, Grace Wamaitha, who is struggling to support her five children after her husband left. The crackdown has also sparked a diplomatic conflict, with Burundi's foreign affairs minister warning that inflammatory rhetoric against Burundians could have repercussions for Kenyans abroad.