President Ruto orders foreigners running small businesses to close by September 7

Speaking at State House to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise MSME traders, President Ruto stated that foreigners involved in hawking and small-scale retail should either shut down their businesses or face action. He emphasized that such opportunities should be reserved for Kenyan citizens, arguing that the government has worked to improve the economy and attract investment, but not for foreign hawkers. The President also called for the fast-tracking of the Local Content Bill, 2025, which aims to legally reserve certain businesses and economic activities exclusively for Kenyan citizens.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui are expected to work on amendments to this bill. Additionally, the government is considering amendments to the Public Procurement Act to strengthen local participation and limit foreign dominance in selected economic areas. This directive follows concerns raised by Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi regarding foreign workers in construction, who she claims are taking jobs from unemployed Kenyan youth and are sometimes paid below local rates.