The organisations said their concern was not that Kenya was enforcing its laws, but that legitimate regulation could be applied in ways that result in nationality-based exclusion, unequal treatment or restrictions on citizens of other EAC Partner States.
A coalition of African civil society organisations has raised concerns over Kenya’s recent measures affecting foreign informal small-scale traders, warning that the implementation of the policy could fuel nationality-based discrimination, economic exclusion and xenophobic tensions across the East African Community (EAC).
The groups, in a joint statement dated Wednesday, September 9, 2026, acknowledged Kenya’s sovereign right to regulate immigration, employment, taxation and business activities, but said such measures must be lawful, proportionate, non-discriminatory and consistent with the Kenyan Constitution, the EAC Treaty and the EAC Common Market Protocol.
The statement was signed by the East African Tax and Governance Network (EATGN), Institute for Social Accountability (TISA), Amnesty International Kenya, Inuka Kenya Ni Sisi!, Bunge Mashinani Initiative, PAWA254, Association of Media Women in Kenya, East African Centre for Human Rights (EACHRights), Centre for Economic Governance (CEG), HumanIsMyID Alliance and Kenya Human Rights Commission.
