President William Ruto has ordered a crackdown on Nigerians and other foreigners operating small-scale businesses in Kenya to protect local traders.
Mr Ruto, at a meeting with small traders in the State House in Nairobi on Wednesday, said foreigners would not be allowed to compete in small businesses with local traders.
“From next week, all (foreign) traders doing those small businesses should close them,” Mr Ruto said.
Mr Ruto argued though Kenya is open for business, foreigners cannot be allowed to takeover small businesses from local traders.
“It cannot be that a person comes from China or elsewhere to be a hawker or open a small shop,” Mr Ruto said.
He added, “We have made efforts to improve the economy, we have not improved investor confidence for hawkers to come to Kenya.”
Mr Ruto, who is seeking re-election next year, promised to speed up legislation barring foreigners from certain businesses in Kenya.
