On September 2, 2026, President William Ruto directed state authorities to shut down small businesses and retail shops operated by foreign nationals, explicitly setting a September 7 deadline for enforcement.
While addressing the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises at State House in Nairobi, the President declared that hawking and small scale retail must be strictly reserved for Kenyan citizens.
Notably, the directive is issued at a crucial time where the administration welcomes foreign capital and industrial endeavours that create local employment; while insisting that foreign nationals should not compete with citizens at the micro-level.
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