Kenya gives foreign workers 90 days to get permits

Kenya said foreign workers would have 90 days to regularise their status, stepping back from concern caused by President William Ruto's order for immigrant-owned small businesses to stop operating.

Ruto said last week that foreigners were not allowed to be hawkers or run small shops and gave them until Monday to cease activity. The remarks alarmed many foreigners, especially Burundians who work as street vendors in Nairobi.

On Monday, hundreds of Burundians went to their embassy seeking to return home. There were also reports that some Burundians had been attacked after Ruto's order.

The president's office said Tuesday that Kenya would conduct an “orderly regularisation exercise” over the next 90 days to ensure migrants have the correct work permits and licences. It warned that immigration rules would be enforced firmly and strictly after the period ends.

Work permits are free for citizens of East African Community countries, but many have not completed the registration process. Burundi and Kenya are both members of the regional bloc, whose citizens have freedom of movement within it.

Kenya's junior foreign minister Korir Sing'Oei apologised to Burundians on Monday, saying many had been attacked by neighbours and friends because of a “lack of understanding”. He said the government's aim was to know where people were living, ensure they had identification and register their jobs.