Audio By Vocalize
Hundreds of Burundian Nationals at the Burundi Embassy along Denis Pritt road, Nairobi after President William Ruto issued a short notice to foreign nationals working in the country without work permits to leave. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard]
When I read about the new directive asking foreign nationals hawking on our streets to leave, I immediately thought about a lady I see every morning outside my place of work. I figured she was not Kenyan from the way she speaks. I thought about her when I missed her at her usual spot on Monday morning. I could not help but wonder if, in our understandable frustration over unemployment and the state of our economy, we may be targeting the wrong people.
Granted, the government has a duty to regulate who enters the country, who resides, works and conducts business here. It has an obligation to ensure that all foreign nationals operate within the law. But the immigrant question is far more complex than simply chasing foreigners from our streets.
Kenya is part of the East African Community (EAC) Common Market, which provides for the free movement of persons and workers, as well as the right of establishment. EAC citizens can therefore work, establish businesses and pursue economic activities in another Partner State, subject to the laws and administrative procedures of the host country. Kenya actually provides a Class R permit specifically for EAC nationals seeking to reside, work, trade or engage in business or other economic activities, including small-scale traders.
