Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has said that Kenya upholds the values of mutual respect under the East African Community and that citizens should observe guidelines in member states.
This comes as President William Ruto directed all foreign nationals engaging in small-scale business to secure necessary documentation to operate in Kenya.
PCS Mudavadi said that the crackdown is not aimed at targeting foreign nationals but at ensuring they lawfully contribute to Kenya’s economic ecosystem.
“Citizens of our partner states should comply with the laws of the country governing their rights of entry, stay and provision of services within the Kenyan jurisdiction. This is a global practice,” he said during a diplomatic meeting in Nairobi on Thursday.
“Kenyan citizens in our partner states are also called upon to comply with similar laws in the territories of their current residence.”
He maintained that Kenya is open to accommodating all foreigners seeking to conduct business in the country, provided they are compliant with all immigration laws.
“Kenya’s approach is therefore more regulatory rather than discriminatory. Ultimately, the objective is to strike an appropriate balance between regional integration and domestic legislative regulations,” Mudavadi noted.
“Small-scale trade and informal retail should be understood as measures aimed at protecting vulnerable sectors of our economy, promoting fair competition and securing sustainable livelihoods of Kenyan citizens
Kenya is not implementing a blanket ban on foreign nationals engaging in small-scale business, but it is seeking to ensure that their participation is consistent with the EAC community and applicable national law.”
President Ruto’s declaration on September 2 has sparked anxiety among foreign nationals as they have since camped outside their Embassies to regularize their documents.
Most Burundian nationals, who spoke to Citizen Digital, lamented the order, citing a limited time to organise their permits and necessary documentation.
President Ruto therefore gave a 90-day window to carry out an orderly regularization exercise to allow affected persons an opportunity to formalize their residence.
He maintained that every person conducting business in Kenya is required to comply with immigration, work-permit, registration and licensing requirements.
The Head of State also clarified that his administration is committed to the EAC policies and will continue facilitating the movement of people, labour, services and capital in line with applicable legal frameworks, including through the African Continental Free Trade Area.
