Kenya's Ruto orders foreign traders out by 7 September, sparking exodus

September 12, 2026 at 03:00 PM2 min

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President William Ruto ordered all foreign nationals running small businesses in Kenya to leave by 7 September, reserving petty trade for Kenyans. The directive triggered panic among migrant traders, with many Burundians queuing at their embassy for travel documents. Some families have already been separated as foreign workers head to border crossings.

Key Facts

President William Ruto set a 7 September deadline for foreign nationals operating small businesses to leave Kenya.
Burundian tuk-tuk driver Ndaikech Ali, who has worked in Nairobi for nine years, said Kenyans have turned against him since the order.
Grace Wamaitha, a Kenyan woman in Majengo, said her Burundian husband left the day after the 3 September directive, leaving her to care for their five children.
Many Burundians have queued at their embassy in Nairobi this week to obtain documents allowing them to travel home.

Presidential Directive

President William Ruto announced the crackdown last week while addressing Kenyan traders at State House. He said all foreign nationals operating small businesses had until 7 September to pack up shop, saying such low-level jobs should be reserved for Kenyans. The remarks referenced legislation before parliament that seeks to exclude foreign nationals from petty trade and mandate local sourcing of certain materials.

Migrant Reaction

Burundian tuk-tuk driver Ndaikech Ali said the president's announcement was interpreted by some Kenyans as a signal that foreign nationals were no longer welcome. Ali, who has worked in Nairobi for nine years, said he faces harassment and cannot work, adding that losing his income would force him to return home. Other Burundians and some foreign nationals have rushed to border crossing points to leave the country, with reports suggesting some have ended up stranded there.

Family Separation

In Nairobi's Majengo neighbourhood, Grace Wamaitha said her Burundian husband left the day after the president's 3 September directive. Wamaitha, who is left trying to feed their five children, has taken on extra work washing clothes and said she does not know how she will pay school fees. A Burundian man identified only as Prosper, who has a child with a Kenyan woman, said the announcement was very painful because he would be forced to leave his family.