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.

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

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

“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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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”.

“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.

AFP