Nigeria has moved to reassure its citizens living in Kenya following President William Ruto’s directive targeting foreigners operating small-scale businesses in the country.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The development comes after Ruto ordered foreign nationals engaged in small-scale businesses such as hawking and petty retail to close their businesses, with enforcement beginning on September 7, 2026.

The directive sparked uncertainty among foreign nationals living in Kenya, with concerns over how the measures would affect their businesses and whether they could face harassment during enforcement.

Nigerian High Commissioner to Kenya Danlami Ibrahim said Nigerians in the country had, however, continued with their normal activities and had not panicked over the Kenyan Government’s announcement.

📌 What You Need to Know

Speaking to LEADERSHIP on Wednesday, Ibrahim said he had engaged Nigerian community leaders, professionals, socio-cultural organisations and other representatives to assess the situation following Ruto’s directive.

“We have established through our consultations that there is no immediate cause for alarm among Nigerians living in Kenya. The policy is not specifically targeted at Nigerian nationals,” Ibrahim said.

The envoy’s remarks came as the Kenyan government moved to give undocumented East African nationals a 90-day window to regularise their status following the crackdown on foreign traders.

The move followed concerns among some foreign nationals, with hundreds of Burundians reportedly seeking assistance at their embassy in Nairobi amid fears that the crackdown could affect their businesses and stay in Kenya.

Kenyan authorities said the 90-day period would allow affected foreign nationals to regularise their immigration status and obtain the necessary documentation, as the Government sought to enforce existing requirements governing foreign workers and businesses.

Ibrahim further sought to allay concerns over possible xenophobic attacks against Nigerians, distinguishing the situation in Kenya from previous incidents involving Nigerians in South Africa.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke