Ruto Reaffirms Openness to Foreign Capital Amid Trader Crackdown

NAIROBI, KENYA-President William Ruto has reaffirmed that foreign nationals are allowed to invest and work in Kenya, provided they strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of the country.

The President addressed the nation during the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Chebunyo Mother and Child Hospital in Bomet County on September 12, 2026.He said that Kenya is an open society, and no foreigners should be prevented from contributing to Kenya’s economy, as long as they have the necessary documents and follow regulations governing their activities.

The President’s remarks came as a direct response to a simmering national debate and recent incident of hostility where some foreign traders were harassed and assaulted by local citizens, forcing some to scamper for safety in the country.

The address sought to strike a delicate balance following a major government directive issued earlier in the month, which reserved small-scale retail and informal trade strictly for Kenyan citizens. To manage this transition smoothly, the government established a 90-day regularization window, allowing foreign nationals to align their immigration statuses and business permits with local laws rather than facing immediate deportation.

“No citizen has a right to take the law into their hands and harm others,” Ruto said.

He emphasized that no one, including foreigners, should feel unsafe doing business in Kenya, even as reports suggest that investors are growing weary. He sought to clarify the government’s position, saying that Kenya would continue to welcome foreigners who complied with the law. However, Kenya benefits from regional and international economic cooperation, making it to maintain an environment suitable for investing.

“I know there has been a big debate about who should work in Kenya, who should invest in Kenya,” he said.

According to President William Ruto, Kenya is an open society and all people from other nations are freely allowed to tour, trade and invest in the country because that is the country’s DNA. He promised that they will be treated fairly in accordance with the law, but they must comply with the regulations governing employment in Kenya, whether they have come to visit, invest or tour in the country.

“We will continue to be an open society because that is the DNA of Kenya,” president Ruto said.

In addition, the President assured citizens from regional trading blocs such as East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern African Community (COMESA), African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), remained free to work and invest in Kenya as long as they adhered to the provided laws so that the region can grow together.

“As citizens of this country, we are believers in East African Community, we are believers in COMESA, we are believers in African continental free trade Area,” president Ruto said.

For foreign investors, President William Ruto’s message is clear: Kenya remains open for business. However, foreign nationals operating in the country are expected to comply with immigration, employment, business and investment regulations. While the government actively welcomes large-scale investments that would spur economic growth, it has at the same time tightened compliance measures to protect local traders. Now the administration has a key policy dilemma: how to protect the livelihoods of domestic business owners but also ensure that foreign nationals are treated fairly and protected under the law.

In the end, Kenya’s approach will work if the government enforces these regulations adequately and creates opportunities for businesses to thrive. It will be important to maintain that balance by promoting economic growth and providing a level playing field for both local traders and foreign investors.

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