Kenya import duty hike protests 2026
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Kenya cracks down on foreign traders and small retailers
Tata Chemicals said it had submitted the information requested by Kenyan authorities and was awaiting further communication.
The directive targets foreign nationals operating small retail shops and engaging in hawking.
Kenya's stock of foreign direct investment was 1.458 trillion Kenyan shillings ($11.27bn) at the end of 2023, up 8.5 percent from the end of 2022.
Kenya minister warns foreigners against visa misuse for trade
President Ruto said Kenya remained open to foreign investment but said a person should not come from China or elsewhere to be a hawker or open a small shop.
President William Ruto set September 7, 2026 as the deadline for foreigners operating small-scale businesses to cease work.
Alexis Ntinanirwa, head of the Association of Burundians living in Kenya, warned the issue could cause problems in the region because Kenyans also do small jobs in Burundi, Tanzania, and Uganda.
“This issue is not only going to cause problems for Burundians working in Kenya, but it is also going to cause problems in the region because there are also Kenyans doing these small jobs in our countries in Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda.”
Kenyan police fire tear gas at protests against import duty hike
The new tax rules raise the minimum import fee for a shipping container by nearly 30 percent.
Hundreds of businesses closed in central Nairobi during the demonstrations.
Kenya's revenue authority said the higher import duty is designed to tackle under-declaration and undervaluation of imported goods.