Kenya gives foreign workers 90 days to formalise their status

Kenya has given foreign workers 90 days to regularise their status, reversing course after President William Ruto’s order on immigrant-owned small businesses triggered panic among migrants.

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We have made efforts to improve the economy, we have not improved investor confidence for hawkers to come to Kenya.

Ruto had said foreigners could not work as hawkers or run small shops and gave them until Monday to stop. The order alarmed many foreign workers, particularly Burundians who sell goods on Nairobi’s streets. Hundreds went to the Burundian embassy on Monday seeking a way to return home, amid fears Kenya could experience violence like that reported against foreigners in South Africa in recent months.

The president’s office said on Tuesday that the government would conduct “an orderly regularisation exercise” over the next 90 days. The aim, it said, was to ensure migrants held the correct work permits and licences. After the period ends, immigration rules “will be enforced firmly and strictly in accordance with the law.”

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an orderly regularisation exercise

Kenya attracts migrants from across the East African Community, whose members enjoy freedom of movement within the regional bloc. Work permits are free for EAC citizens, but many have not completed the registration process. Burundi, which has about 15 million people and is among the world’s poorest countries, is an EAC member alongside Kenya.

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will be enforced firmly and strictly in accordance with the law

Kenya’s junior foreign minister, Korir Sing’Oei, apologised to Burundians on Monday, saying “many have been attacked by their neighbours and their friends” because of a “lack of understanding.” He said the government’s main aim was to establish where migrants lived, confirm their identification and register their jobs. Reports said some Burundians had been attacked after Ruto’s order.

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many have been attacked by their neighbours and their friends