Nairobi, Sept. 10 -- On September 2, 2026, President William Ruto directed state authorities to shut down small businesses and retail shops operated by foreign nationals, explicitly setting a September 7 deadline for enforcement.

While addressing the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises at State House in Nairobi, the President declared that hawking and small scale retail must be strictly reserved for Kenyan citizens.

Notably, the directive is issued at a crucial time where the administration welcomes foreign capital and industrial endeavours that create local employment; while insisting that foreign nationals should not compete with citizens at the micro-level.

To institutionalise this protectionist vision, the Executive instructe...