Kenyan President William Ruto says foreign investors and nationals are free to work and invest in the country provided they comply with the country’s laws and regulations.
Ruto spoke on Saturday during the foundation stone-laying
ceremony for Chebunyo Mother and Child Hospital in Bomet county.
“I know there has been a big debate about who should work in
Kenya, who should invest in Kenya. Let me say this for the record: all
investors have space in Kenya,” he said.
Ruto said Kenya remains committed to regional integration
and would continue to allow citizens of member states of the East African
Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and
the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to participate in the
country’s economy within the law.
He said foreign nationals would be treated fairly but would
be required to comply with regulations governing employment, investment and
visits to Kenya.
“Every person, from wherever they come from, will be treated
fairly in accordance with the law and made to comply with the regulations
governing employment in Kenya, investment in Kenya, visit to Kenya, whether
they are tourists, whether they have come to work, or whether they have come to
invest,” he added.
The Kenyan president also warned against attacks or
harassment of foreign nationals.
“And no citizen has a right to take the law into their
hands, and harm other people from other areas. …We will continue to be an open
society because that is the DNA of Kenya,” he said.
90-DAY REGULARISATION WINDOW
Ruto’s remarks come amid a government directive giving
foreign nationals operating businesses in Kenya to regularise their immigration
status and business operations in 90 days.
The window covers requirements relating to immigration
status, work permits, business registration and licensing.
The directive followed concerns raised by Kenyan traders
over the participation of foreign nationals in small-scale businesses and
informal trade.
The government has said the exercise is not intended as a
blanket exclusion of foreigners, maintaining that those lawfully resident,
employed, investing or conducting business in Kenya will continue to receive
protection.
Ruto has also directed that the Local Content Bill, 2025, be
expanded to establish a framework governing foreign participation in
small-scale trade and enterprise.
The proposed framework is expected to identify categories of
economic activity that may be reserved for Kenyan citizens while providing
legal protection for foreigners entitled to work, invest and conduct business
in the country.
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