Ruto Breaks Silence on Crackdown on Foreign Traders, Issues Way Forward

President William Ruto has addressed the debate surrounding foreign traders and workers in Kenya, saying the government will allow investment while requiring all foreign nationals to follow the country’s laws and regulations.

The President said his administration had removed barriers and bottlenecks that previously hindered investment as it seeks to attract more capital and support economic growth.

Speaking during the Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony for the Chebunyo Mother and Child Hospital in Bomet County on Saturday, September 12, Ruto said the debate over who should work and invest in Kenya should be guided by the country’s laws.

“I know there has been a big debate about who should work in Kenya, who should invest in Kenya. Let me say this for the record: all investors have space in Kenya. We have gone out of our way to eliminate barriers, to remove bottlenecks that have impeded investment in our Republic,” Ruto said.

Ruto Sets Rules for Foreign Traders

Meanwhile, Ruto said citizens from the East African Community (EAC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could invest and work in Kenya provided they complied with the applicable regulations.

“As citizens of this country, we are believers in the East African Community, we are believers in COMESA and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area. And citizens of all these trading zones, whether it is EAC or COMESA or AfCFTA, are free to invest in our country, they are free to work in Kenya within the rules that are provided for in Kenya so that we can together be able to grow our region,” he said.

Also Read: Kenya’s War on Foreign Traders Betrays the East African Dream

At the same time, the Head of State warned Kenyans against taking the law into their own hands or harming people because of their country or region of origin.

He added that authorities would require foreign nationals to comply with regulations covering employment, investment and visits to Kenya, whether they entered the country as tourists, workers or investors.

Ruto Highlights Amsons, Dangote Investments

Beyond the debate over foreign traders, Ruto pointed to the growth in foreign direct investment over the past three years, citing investments by Amsons Group as part of the developments contributing to the increase.

“And because of what we have done over the last three years, foreign direct investment that has come into this country, including what Amsons has done, has grown from 1.6 billion dollars to 3.2 billion dollars,” he said.

Also Read: Ruto Issues Fresh Directives to Foreign Traders, Gives Them 90 Days to Comply

Building on that growth, Ruto said the government expects foreign direct investment to increase further, pointing to major projects already in the pipeline.

“In fact, we are looking at doubling that foreign direct investment next year because of some of the other investments that are already, uh, that we have already signed. One of them being, end of this month, we will be signing a 16 billion dollar commitment by Dangote to build a refinery in Lamu, and many others that are on course,” he stated.

Ruto maintained that Kenya would continue to facilitate investment while enforcing the laws governing employment, business and other activities within the country.

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A photo of President William Ruto laying the foundation stone for the Chebunyo Level Four Mother and Child Hospital in Bomet County, assisted by Amsons Group Managing Director Edha Nahdi. PHOTO/ PCS

A photo of President William Ruto laying the foundation stone for the Chebunyo Level Four Mother and Child Hospital in Bomet County, assisted by Amsons Group Managing Director Edha Nahdi on September 12, 2026. PHOTO/ PCS