肯尼亚呼吁无证外国公民登记身份以平息排外风波Kenya Urges Undocumented Migrants to Register Amid Crackdown Tensions

肯尼亚贸易部门此前指出，部分外国公民利用签证规则漏洞在未取得必要许可的情况下在境内务工。总统威廉·鲁托据此提出，外国投资的重心应转向能够投入资本、创造就业并促进本地生产的产业投资者，而极低资本门槛的小微零售与街头小贩业务必须保留给本国公民。肯尼亚议会目前正在审议限制特定商业经营范围的相关法案，政府则将9月7日星期一定为从事此类小额贸易的外籍人员停止营业并退出的最后期限。

Kenya's trade ministry stated that some foreign nationals had exploited visa rules to work without required permits, prompting President William Ruto to push for restricting low-capital petty retail and hawking to Kenyan citizens. Ruto emphasized that the country's economic strategy focuses on large-scale investors who inject capital, create local jobs, and contribute to domestic manufacturing, noting that parliament is considering draft legislation to restrict foreign participation in specific commercial activities. Authorities designated Monday, September 7, as the firm deadline for undocumented foreign micro-traders to cease operations.

整顿指令在执行首日引发外籍群体的广泛恐慌与离境混乱。在布隆迪驻内罗毕使馆宣布免费向拟回国侨民发放紧急旅行证件后，门外排起了长队，还有许多人抢购长途巴士车票。现场目击显示，部分布隆迪人携带手提箱和床垫等全部家当准备离开肯尼亚，但也有人表示无力承担交通费用并呼吁政府延长截止期。联合国难民署数据显示肯尼亚境内约有1.6万名布隆迪难民和寻求庇护者，但目前尚无法确定其中从事小微贸易的具体人数。

The enforcement deadline triggered immediate panic among foreign residents in Nairobi, particularly after the Burundian embassy offered free emergency travel documents to citizens choosing repatriation. Long queues formed outside the embassy as hundreds scrambled to process paperwork, while others rushed to purchase bus tickets. Departing migrants were seen carrying suitcases and mattresses across transit points, though several traders stated they could not afford the travel costs and appealed for deadline extensions. While the United Nations refugee agency counts approximately 16,000 Burundian refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya, the exact proportion engaged in informal petty trade remains undocumented.

在针对外国小商贩的整顿措施引发紧张局势后，肯尼亚政府发言人查尔斯·奥维诺在周一的新闻发布会上宣布，官方已为境内无有效证件的外国公民开辟正规登记渠道。奥维诺承认，由于历史成因与区域流动特征，包括部分布隆迪人在内的东非公民在肯尼亚居住和经营时未持有完整文件。肯尼亚外交部正与布隆迪驻肯使馆及其他区域伙伴合作推进身份正规化，凡在使领馆完成正式身份登记的人员，在办理审核期间均被推定为合法居留。

Following rising tensions triggered by the enforcement measures against small-scale foreign traders, Kenyan government spokesperson Charles Owino announced at a Monday press briefing that the administration has established a formal registration channel for undocumented foreign nationals. Owino acknowledged that due to regional dynamics and historical circumstances, a number of East African citizens, including several Burundians, have resided and operated in the country without full paperwork. Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with the Burundian embassy and other regional partners to regularize their residency, confirming that those actively participating in embassy registration will be presumed legally present during processing.

针对整顿期间部分外籍商贩遭遇的敌意与骚扰，肯尼亚外交部高级官员科里尔·辛格奥伊在周一专程前往布隆迪驻内罗毕使馆，向受影响的布隆迪公民公开表达歉意，并指出总统的行政指令在执行中受到了曲解。辛格奥伊同时承诺，肯尼亚政府将增加布隆迪人聚居区域的安保力量，防止针对外国居民的不当骚扰再度发生。

Addressing reports of hostility against foreign vendors, senior Kenyan foreign affairs official Korir Sing'oei visited the Burundian embassy in Nairobi on Monday, stating that President Ruto's directive had been misunderstood and offering an explicit apology to affected nationals. Sing'oei also pledged that the government will tighten security deployments across neighborhoods where Burundians live to prevent further harassment and ensure community protection.

肯尼亚民众对政府清理外籍小商贩的举措反响不一。部分支持整顿的居民认为，在当前经济承压的环境下，外国商贩挤占了本土就业空间。内罗毕居民詹姆斯·姆瓦拉表示，许多肯尼亚人面临失业困境，而部分外国劳工往往愿意接受更低的薪资，导致本地人陷入竞争劣势，他对总统采取措施保护本国人饭碗表达了感谢。

Public sentiment in Kenya remains divided over the enforcement action against foreign petty vendors. Supporters of the restrictions argue that foreign small-scale traders have undermined domestic employment opportunities during a period of economic strain. James Mwaurah, a resident of Nairobi, stated that many unemployed Kenyans face difficult competition from foreign laborers who frequently accept lower wages, adding that he appreciates the president's move to protect local jobs.

另一些市民在认同依法规范移民与商业管理的同时，反对将外籍人员一概遣返。当地居民巴布·克劳狄乌斯指出，肯尼亚仍需要外国劳工与国际商业参与，只要外国公民合法居留，大家完全可以和平相处；他警告直接驱逐外商可能会吓退外国投资者，并强调外籍人员必须遵循合法合规的前提在肯居留。

Other citizens, while backing the lawful enforcement of immigration and business regulations, reject the notion of simply expelling foreigners from the country. Nairobi resident Babu Claudius noted that Kenya continues to rely on foreign workers and international commercial engagement, emphasizing that communities can live together peacefully if legal frameworks are respected. Claudius cautioned that chasing foreign traders away risks frightening off international investors, stressing that foreign nationals must ensure they reside and operate legally.

肯尼亚官方2024年发布的数据显示，全国非正规就业部门容纳了约1740万人，其中80%的从业人员参与已登记的商业交易。在这一庞大的非正规经济体系中，无论是街头叫卖还是经营小杂货铺，均是包括外籍人士在内的劳动力维持生计的重要途径。政治经济学家希拉·奥维戈·奥朗指出，几乎没有证据表明驱逐外籍小商贩能直接转化为肯尼亚本国公民的就业机会，此项整顿政策在选举前夕推出带有民粹色彩，属于迎合选民情绪的举措，甚至可能导致部分外国投资者在选举结束前选择观望或收缩业务。

Official data published in 2024 shows that Kenya's informal economy employs approximately 17.4 million people, with eight out of ten workers participating in registered business transactions. Hawking and running small informal shops remain primary livelihoods for both local residents and foreign nationals. Political economist Sheila Owigo Olang noted that little evidence suggests expelling foreign vendors will directly create job opportunities for Kenyan citizens, describing the measure as a populist policy timed conveniently ahead of elections that could cause foreign investors to pause or wait until the election concludes.

奥朗认为，肯尼亚若希望持续增强对重大外部投资的吸引力，应当将精力投入治理腐败和改善营商便利度等深层结构性问题，而非聚焦于微型外籍商贩。联合国贸发会议统计显示，肯尼亚在2025年吸引了创纪录的32亿美元（约合27.5亿欧元）外国直接投资，较前一年增长近38%。为了延续这一势头，肯尼亚议会目前正在审议《2025年本地成分法案》，该法案拟要求受监管的外国企业在特定商品与服务采购中实现至少60%的本地化比例。

Olang argued that Kenya should focus on systemic reforms, including curbing corruption and improving its position on the Ease of Doing Business Index, rather than penalizing low-capital foreign traders. According to UNCTAD, Kenya attracted a record $3.2 billion (2.75 billion euros) in foreign direct investment in 2025, marking an increase of nearly 38% compared to the prior year. To build on this performance, Kenyan lawmakers are reviewing the proposed Local Content Bill 2025, which would mandate that covered foreign firms source at least 60% of specific goods and services locally.