Kalonzo: Dialogue, not crackdown, needed on foreign traders

Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has criticised the government’s move to crack down on foreign traders, saying the exercise has been poorly handled and could have wider economic and diplomatic implications.

Kalonzo said the sight of hundreds of small-scale traders seeking emergency travel documents outside the Burundian Embassy in Nairobi ahead of a government deadline was an indication of the confusion surrounding the exercise.

“Hundreds of small-scale traders scrambling for emergency travel documents outside the Burundian Embassy in Nairobi this week, ahead of a government deadline, tell you everything about how this crackdown has been handled,” he said.

He said the government could adopt a more deliberate approach that protects Kenyan businesses while allowing foreign traders who meet legal requirements to operate.

The Wiper leader said challenges facing small-scale traders include corruption, an unpredictable business environment, and inconsistent tariff and taxation policies.

“There are better, more deliberate ways to protect Kenyan small businesses and create an environment where entrepreneurs, Kenyan and foreign alike, can thrive within the law. The real threats facing our small traders are corruption, an unpredictable working environment including this regime's erratic tariffs and taxation policies, and the pre-election tensions being deliberately stoked by the outgoing regime, not the presence of foreign traders alone,” he said.

Kalonzo called for greater use of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing concerns surrounding foreign traders, particularly as Kenya approaches the 2027 General Election.

He warned that a heavy-handed approach could strain relations between communities and neighbouring countries and potentially affect economic activity.

“Diplomacy, dialogue, and respect for the rule of law must take centre stage. A lack of diplomacy risks deepening divisions between communities, regions, and nations and destabilising economic activity at a time when Kenya can least afford it,” Kalonzo said.

He also called for transparency in how affected foreign nationals are processed, including any changes to their documentation or immigration status.

“We must also insist on full transparency in how affected foreign nationals are processed going forward, including any documentation or status changes issued to them,” he said.

Kalonzo questioned whether the crackdown, as currently implemented, would achieve its stated objective of protecting Kenyan businesses.

He accused the government of focusing on the issue while, in his view, failing to adequately address economic challenges facing Kenyan traders.

Kalonzo said the government should instead pursue measures that support local businesses while ensuring foreign traders comply with Kenya’s laws.

Let us also be honest: this crackdown is not about protecting Kenyan businesses,” he said, adding that corruption and taxation remained among the issues affecting Kenyan livelihoods.