The Ground-Kamara Hosts Abdallah Kayonde E.D Migrant Workers Voice
On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, Kenyan President William Ruto hosted a meeting with micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) traders at State House in Nairobi. During the engagement, he directed authorities to shut down small-scale retail and street-hawking businesses operated by foreign nationals, in a move aimed at protecting local traders.
The enforcement was initially scheduled to begin on Monday, September 7, 2026, before the government subsequently introduced a 90-day grace period to allow affected traders to regularise their documentation.
Although the grace period is now underway, the directive immediately sent shockwaves among foreign nationals, including Ugandans, with some reportedly packing up and rushing to the border amid uncertainty and fear over their future in Kenya.
In this episode of The Grind with Patrick Kamara, the host engages Abdallah Kayonde, Executive Director of Migrant Workers Voice, to discuss the impact of the presidential directive, the subsequent 90-day grace period, and the plight of Ugandan businesspeople and other foreign workers in Kenya. The conversation also comes against the backdrop of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which saw more than 1,100 Ugandans repatriated.
During the conversation, Kayonde says the presidential directive came as a surprise and a shock, particularly at a time when the region is promoting the ambitions of a common market. He explains that the move could have far-reaching negative repercussions for the business environment across the region, potentially threatening investor confidence and mutual business cooperation. He calls for the directive to be withdrawn.
Kayonde also highlights the unfavourable working conditions faced by Ugandans working in the Middle East, calling for greater intervention by the Ugandan authorities to negotiate better policies and working conditions. He further advocates for the establishment of a minimum wage if Uganda is to reduce the growing number of citizens travelling abroad in search of greener pastures
The Ground-Kamara Hosts Abdallah Kayonde E.D Migrant Workers Voice
On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, Kenyan President William Ruto hosted a meeting with micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) traders at State House in Nairobi. During the engagement, he directed authorities to shut down small-scale retail and street-hawking businesses operated by foreign nationals, in a move aimed at protecting local traders.
The enforcement was initially scheduled to begin on Monday, September 7, 2026, before the government subsequently introduced a 90-day grace period to allow affected traders to regularise their documentation.
Although the grace period is now underway, the directive immediately sent shockwaves among foreign nationals, including Ugandans, with some reportedly packing up and rushing to the border amid uncertainty and fear over their future in Kenya.
In this episode of The Grind with Patrick Kamara, the host engages Abdallah Kayonde, Executive Director of Migrant Workers Voice, to discuss the impact of the presidential directive, the subsequent 90-day grace period, and the plight of Ugandan businesspeople and other foreign workers in Kenya. The conversation also comes against the backdrop of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which saw more than 1,100 Ugandans repatriated.
During the conversation, Kayonde says the presidential directive came as a surprise and a shock, particularly at a time when the region is promoting the ambitions of a common market. He explains that the move could have far-reaching negative repercussions for the business environment across the region, potentially threatening investor confidence and mutual business cooperation. He calls for the directive to be withdrawn.
Kayonde also highlights the unfavourable working conditions faced by Ugandans working in the Middle East, calling for greater intervention by the Ugandan authorities to negotiate better policies and working conditions. He further advocates for the establishment of a minimum wage if Uganda is to reduce the growing number of citizens travelling abroad in search of greener pastures