Uganda Urges Citizens in Kenya to Regularise Stay After Ruto’s 90-Day Ultimatum

Uganda Urges Citizens in Kenya to Regularise Stay After Ruto’s 90-Day Ultimatum

The Ugandan government has urged its citizens living and doing business in Kenya to regularise their stay and business operations following President William Ruto’s 90-day directive targeting foreigners who have not complied with Kenyan laws.

Ugandan Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Kadaga said Ugandans affected by the directive should seek guidance from the Ugandan High Commission in Nairobi.

Kadaga spoke on Wednesday, September 8, amid growing concern among East African nationals living and working in Kenya following the government’s renewed focus on immigration, work permits and business licences.

She clarified that President Ruto’s directive should not be interpreted as an order to expel Ugandan citizens from Kenya.

“I do not want this to be understood as an expulsion of non-Kenyans. It is a directive for foreigners to regularise and register their stay,” Kadaga said.

The Ugandan official urged citizens operating businesses in Kenya to ensure they have the required licences and comply with the regulations governing foreign-owned businesses.

She particularly encouraged Ugandans involved in small-scale trade and hawking to formalise their operations rather than operating outside the regulatory framework.

“Those doing business need to regularise their businesses, get licences and bank accounts instead of just walking around and hawking,” she added.

Kadaga explains EAC rights

Kadaga also addressed the rights of East African Community citizens to move and work across member states.

She noted that EAC integration provides citizens with opportunities to move, work and establish businesses in partner countries. However, she said those rights do not remove the obligation to respect the laws of the host country.

“We are not yet a federation. We still have a sovereignty obligation and right. But EAC protocol allows people to move, work and establish in different partner states, but it should be done in the right manner,” she said.

Her remarks come as Kenya continues implementing measures aimed at ensuring foreign nationals living and working in the country comply with immigration and business requirements.

Kenya gives foreigners 90 days

President Ruto’s administration announced the 90-day regularisation period on Tuesday, September 8.

State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed said the window would give affected foreigners an opportunity to bring their immigration status and business operations into compliance with Kenyan law.

The exercise covers immigration status, work permits, business registration and licensing requirements.

“Every person conducting business in Kenya is required to comply with applicable immigration, work-permit, registration and licensing requirements. Over the next 90 days, the Government will conduct an orderly regularisation exercise to facilitate compliance,” Hussein said.

The government has maintained that the process will be conducted through relevant agencies and in consultation with the embassies of affected countries.

Foreign traders face uncertainty

The directive has caused anxiety among some foreign nationals, particularly those operating small businesses in Kenya.

Ugandan, Rwandan and Burundian nationals are among those who have expressed concern over the future of their businesses and employment.

Some foreign traders earn their livelihoods through activities such as selling coffee, peanuts, second-hand clothes and other small-scale goods.

The government has, however, maintained that the 90-day period is intended to provide an opportunity for affected foreigners to comply with the law rather than immediately remove them from the country.

The development has also placed renewed attention on how Kenya balances its immigration and business regulations with the EAC’s regional integration commitments.

For Ugandans living in Kenya, Kadaga’s message is clear: those wishing to continue working or doing business in the country should use the 90-day window to regularise their status and ensure their operations meet Kenyan legal requirements.

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Uganda Urges Citizens in Kenya to Regularise Stay After Ruto’s 90-Day Ultimatum