Kenya President William Ruto has ordered the shutdown of small retail shops owned by foreigners in the east African country.
Mr Ruto, on Wednesday, directed the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry to begin enforcement action against foreigners engaged in local trading and hawking next Monday.
The president said the directive was based on the need to protect local Kenyan traders and ensure that businesses reserved for citizens are not affected by unfair competition.
There’s a bill before the Kenyan parliament that targets foreign participation in certain small-scale businesses. The Local Content Bill introduced in 2025 seeks to increase Kenyans’ participation in economic activities and provide greater opportunities for local businesses and citizens.
The bill also proposed sourcing at least 60 per cent of goods, services, and supplies locally where they meet the required standards.
