Kenya gives foreign workers 90 days to formalise status

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Burundian nationals gather outside their embassy to apply for border passes as they prepare to travel back to their country following the Kenyan government’s directive on undocumented small-scale traders, in Nairobi on September 7, 2026. Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP.

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Kenya warned foreign workers they had 90 days to regularise their status as it sought to backtrack from a panic triggered by President William Ruto’s order to close immigrant-owned small businesses.

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As the regional powerhouse, Kenya attracts migrants from across the East African Community (EAC), whose members enjoy freedom of movement within the regional bloc.

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But last week Ruto said foreigners were not allowed to be hawkers or run small shops, and gave them until Monday to cease activity.

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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 said in a speech.

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It was widely seen as a bid to rally support among Kenyan hawkers ahead of elections next year but it sparked fear among many foreigners, particularly Burundians who make a living through street vending in Nairobi.

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On Monday, hundreds of Burundians flocked to their embassy, seeking a return home, amid fears Kenya could see the sort of xenophobic violence experienced in South Africa in recent months.

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The government has now backtracked, saying it only wanted to ensure no one was illegally operating a business.

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Work permits are free for citizens of EAC countries but many have not gone through the registration process.

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In a statement issued on Tuesday, the president’s office said it “will conduct an orderly regularisation exercise” over the next 90 days to ensure migrants have the correct work permits and licences.

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At the end of the 90-day period, immigration rules “will be enforced firmly and strictly in accordance with the law”, it warned.

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Burundi, a country of about 15 million people and one of the world’s poorest, is part of the EAC alongside Kenya. There have been reports some Burundians were attacked following Ruto’s order.

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Kenya’s junior foreign minister Korir Sing’Oei apologised to Burundians on Monday, saying “many have been attacked by their neighbours and their friends” due to a “lack of understanding”.

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“Our main aim is to know how you are living, where you are, that you have identification, and that your jobs are registered,” he said.

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AFP

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