Kalonzo blames corruption, erratic taxes for local traders' woes, not foreign hawkers

Taking to X, Kalonzo said the sight of small-scale traders scrambling for emergency travel documents outside the Burundian Embassy in Nairobi, ahead of a government deadline, told the whole story of how the crackdown had been managed.

"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," Kalonzo said.

He argued that the challenges facing Kenyan small-scale traders go beyond the presence of foreign traders, pointing instead to corruption, an unpredictable business environment, and erratic tariffs and taxation policies as the real drivers of the problem.

"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," he said, describing the government's approach as chaotic.

"Crackdown without strategy is not governance," Kalonzo added, accusing the administration of manufacturing a crisis rather than addressing the underlying issues affecting local traders.

He also raised concern over the political undertones of the timing, warning that tensions deliberately stoked ahead of the 2027 General Election could end up hurting small businesses caught in the crossfire.

Kalonzo called for diplomacy, dialogue, and respect for the rule of law to guide how the government handles the matter going forward.

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

He further demanded full transparency in how affected foreign nationals are processed, including any documentation or status changes issued to them, cautioning that the exercise should not be exploited for purposes beyond legitimate trade or border management concerns.