Kenya Orders Shutdown of Foreign-Owned Small Shops From Sept. 7 as FDI Hits $11.27 Billion
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Sep 7
Kenya Orders Shutdown of Foreign-Owned Small Shops From Sept. 7 as FDI Hits $11.27 Billion
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Sep 7
Summary
September 7 marks the start of Kenya’s crackdown on foreign nationals running small retail shops and hawking, after President William Ruto ordered authorities to close such businesses.
Ruto said hawking and small-scale retail should be reserved for Kenyans, while foreign investors are welcome in higher-capital sectors; he also pushed Parliament to fast-track the Local Content Bill, 2025.
Legal scope remains unclear because the government has not published a full list of affected businesses or explained how the order applies to foreigners who already hold permits.
On September 6, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei said foreigners who meet Kenya’s legal requirements, including work permits and licences, remain protected and that Ruto’s remarks were tied to the pending bill.
The move targets a narrow slice of the economy, but comes as Kenya’s foreign investment stock stood at 1.458 trillion shillings, or $11.27 billion, at end-2023—raising concerns that unpredictable enforcement could chill wider investment.