肯尼亚总统下令关闭外国人经营的小商业

肯尼亚总统威廉·鲁托周三在内罗毕州政厅对小商人集会发表讲话，宣布从下周开始关闭所有由外国人经营的小商业1。鲁托表示，"来自中国或其他地方的人不能成为流动商贩或开设小店铺"1，称此举是为保护肯尼亚本地小商贩的利益。他指出，肯尼亚欢迎外资投入，但投资者应该创造就业机会，而非与肯尼亚人竞争小生意1。

这一政策主要针对在肯尼亚非正规经济中从事贸易的非洲移民，反映了该国日益加剧的本地商人与外国商人之间的紧张关系1。根据数据，肯尼亚至2024年6月底有约857,000名登记的难民和寻求庇护者，其中近14%生活在城市地区1。尽管肯尼亚法律认可难民工作和经营企业的权利，但需要获得适当证件1。

Kenyan President William Ruto announced a sweeping directive to shut down foreign-operated small businesses across the country, beginning the following week.1 Speaking at a gathering of street traders in Nairobi County on Wednesday afternoon, Ruto declared that foreign traders engaged in informal commerce must cease operations immediately.1 "From next week, all [foreign] traders doing those small businesses should close them," Ruto stated, adding that "It cannot be that a person comes from China or elsewhere to be a hawker or open a small shop."1

The move reflects mounting tensions between local merchants and foreign traders competing in Kenya's informal economy.1 While Ruto affirmed that Kenya welcomes foreign investment, he argued that international investors should create employment opportunities rather than compete directly with Kenyan citizens in small-scale trading.1 Kenya's legal framework recognizes refugees' and asylum seekers' rights to work and operate businesses, though they are required to obtain appropriate documentation.1 As of June 2024, the country hosted approximately 857,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers, with nearly 14 percent residing in urban areas.1

The announcement comes as Ruto prepares for a second-term election bid in the coming year.1