This archive report was first published on 21 November 2019.
On November 21, 2019, Interior Cabinet Secretary Matiang'i made a bold move to address the growing concern of foreigners engaging in small-scale trading in Kenya. Speaking at the launch of an immigration center in Nakuru County, he ordered the immediate deportation of four Chinese nationals who had been trading in Nairobi's popular Gikomba market.
The Chinese nationals were caught after a photo surfaced online showing them standing next to bales of second-hand clothes, a common sight in Gikomba market among small-scale traders who resell the goods in different parts of the country.
This is not the first time Chinese nationals have been spotted engaging in small-scale trading in Kenya. Previous photos have shown them roasting maize by the roadside, sparking anger among Kenyans who are already grappling with a high unemployment rate.
Matiang'i emphasized that foreigners who wish to work in Kenya must apply for work permits in their respective countries, citing the complex procedure involved in obtaining a work permit in Kenya.
