Kenya Kwanza MPs defend Ruto’s call for foreign traders to regularise operations

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has defended President William Ruto’s directive requiring foreign nationals living and doing business in Kenya to regularise their status, saying the move is aimed at enforcing existing laws and protecting opportunities for Kenyan entrepreneurs.

Wetang’ula said Kenya remained open to investors and other foreign nationals but insisted that those operating businesses in the country must possess the necessary documentation, licences and permits.

Speaking during a boda boda empowerment drive in Endebess Constituency, Trans Nzoia County, Wetang’ula said the President’s remarks had been misinterpreted as an attempt to close Kenya’s doors to other Africans.

He said Kenya had continued to welcome visitors and investors from across Africa, particularly within the East African Community, while easing entry requirements for Africans travelling into the country.

“What the President wants, and all of us want, is that when you leave Kenya for Uganda, you must register yourself with the authorities so that they know a visitor has entered our territory, not to bar you in any way,” Wetang’ula said.

He argued that the same principle should apply to EAC nationals entering Kenya, saying authorities must be able to establish who enters the country and the purpose of their visit.

Wetang’ula said Kenya welcomed legitimate foreign investment but questioned whether foreigners entering the country as investors only to engage in small-scale trading could properly be classified as investors.

“However, the people we don’t want to hear about are those who come to Kenya as investors but you get them selling maize in a local market. Is that investment really?” he posed.

He said the Government had a responsibility to protect small-scale trading opportunities for Kenyan entrepreneurs while ensuring that foreign nationals complied with immigration and business regulations.

Wetang’ula also rejected claims that the Government was becoming hostile to other Africans, citing President Ruto’s decision to allow African nationals to enter Kenya without visas.

“President Ruto has been the first president to allow other Africans from African nations to enter Kenya visa-free,” he said, adding that Kenya remained willing to accommodate foreigners who contribute to the country’s development.

Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe echoed the Speaker’s position, accusing the opposition of misrepresenting the President’s remarks.

Mugabe said the directive targeting foreigners engaged in small businesses or casual work without the required authorisation was about enforcing existing laws rather than discriminating against foreigners.

“Just recently the President announced that foreigners doing menial jobs or running small businesses without licences should regularise themselves with the authorities. The opposition were the first people to oppose the move, but we know President Ruto did not mean any harm in his utterances,” Mugabe said.

He said the Government was particularly concerned about foreign nationals conducting petty trade without the necessary licences, arguing that some informal economic activities should remain accessible to Kenyans.

Mugabe also called for tighter monitoring of people entering the country through unofficial routes, saying proper registration was necessary for national security and effective immigration management.

“We want to know all those residents of the EAC coming to Kenya. We don’t want some of them using panya routes to enter the country,” he said.

The remarks come as debate intensifies over the role of foreign nationals in Kenya’s informal economy, with local traders raising concerns about competition for jobs and small-business opportunities.

Wetang’ula said, however, that immigration, work-permit and business-licensing rules must be applied fairly and consistently.

He said Kenya could continue attracting foreign investment while ensuring that foreign businesses did not unfairly compete with local entrepreneurs operating small enterprises.

The Speaker also used the Endebess event to rally residents behind President Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027, urging voters to support continuity of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

He cited reduced fertiliser prices, infrastructure projects, market development and the recruitment of teachers as some of the Government’s achievements.

Wetang’ula said the price of a 50-kilogramme bag of fertiliser had fallen from about Sh7,500 to Sh2,500, while the Government was advancing infrastructure projects, including the dualling of the Rironi-Malaba road corridor.

He said continuity would allow the administration to consolidate its programmes in agriculture, infrastructure, education and enterprise development.

Wetang’ula also urged residents to scrutinise the opposition’s agenda and demand practical policy alternatives rather than criticism of the Government.