These xenophobic demos should stop immediately

• The same xenophobic feelings have been reported in South Sudan where Kenyans are the target of local residents and in Malawi where an investment and export promotion law has barred foreigners from operating in the country’s four major cities.
• While the government has an obligation to protect local traders – and this is the practice all over the world – it should not encourage the rise of xenophobic attacks based on the fear of competition from genuine foreign nationals doing business.
• It is the duty of the Immigration and Trade ministries to maintain a proper database of all immigrants and make sure that the laws are not abused.

Last week, some small-scale traders took to the city streets to protest against Chinese immigrants whom they said were operating businesses in the country while on tourist visas.

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance later threw its weight behind the protest and asked the government to arrest the said immigrants. But are the Chinese the only foreigners doing such business in the country? We don’t think so.
The economic squeeze, declining margins, and frustrations at the lower echelons of retail trade is frustrating hundreds of merchants. And Kenya is not alone.
The same xenophobic feelings have been reported in South Sudan where Kenyans are the target of local residents and in Malawi where an investment and export promotion law has barred foreigners from operating in the country’s four major cities.

While the government has an obligation to protect local traders – and this is the practice all over the world – it should not encourage the rise of xenophobic attacks based on the fear of competition from genuine foreign nationals doing business.

It is the duty of the Immigration and Trade ministries to maintain a proper database of all immigrants and make sure that the laws are not abused.

Since Independence, this country has put in place immigration procedures which outline what kind of businesses foreigners can engage in and what kind of skilled workforce can enter the country and for how long.

Certainly, petty traders are outlawed; and if there are any foreign nationals running small corner shops, kiosks or stall then they are doing so illegally.
If the Chinese, or any other nationals, are running such business then it is upon the government trade officials to crackdown on such traders rather than leave this at the hands of locals who can end up victimising the innocent.

While people have a right to demonstrate, it was wrong for the demonstrators to target the Chinese.

That goes against the Constitution and is akin to propagating hate and ethnic incitement.

Xenophobic attacks could end up damaging the country’s reputation as an investment destination.

The government should, therefore, move with speed to investigate the presence of unskilled foreigners in the country and make sure that everyone conforms to the laws.

Xenophobic attacks could end up damaging the country’s reputation as an investment destination.

The government should, therefore, move with speed to investigate the presence of unskilled foreigners in the country and make sure that everyone conforms to the laws.

But genuine foreign traders should not be harassed under the pretext of protecting local business. It is upon the government to make sure that as we go to the elections, xenophobic attacks on foreigners does not become an item to solicit for votes.
And that is why we should trend carefully on the issue.