The Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential candidate William Ruto has said he will deport all Chinese nationals with retail businesses in Kenya, which can be done by Kenyans if he is elected president in the August election.

Ruto was speaking during his Kenya Kwanza Alliance economic forum in Nairobi when he said he will not allow the Chinese nationals to engage in such businesses as selling in kiosks, roasting maize, and retail, among other ventures.

He declared such businesses belong to Kenyans and will deport the Chinese back to where they came from.

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Chinese ambassador to Kenya Wu Peng and William Ruto. PHOTO/DPPS

“These are Kenyan businesses and for those engaged in them, we have enough aeroplanes to deport them back to where they came from,” Ruto said.


Ruto noted Kenya has agreements with foreign countries on the level of businesses and jobs that foreigners can engage in and locals.

According to Ruto, the same agreements specify instances in which work permits are required and where they are not needed.

He emphasised that the level does now allow foreigners to sell in kiosks, retail shops or roasting maize.

"That level is not selling in kiosks, retail or roasting maize," the DP said.


The deputy president was responding to a query by a concerned trader who complained about the Chinese nationals’ invasion of the retail market.

The trader claimed the Chinese merchants were selling their products cheaply, and that threatens the existence of the local businesses.


The Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria reiterated Ruto’s remarks, noting that one cannot find an African hawker in China.

Kuria also said because of that, Kenya may have to hold discussions with the Chinese government around restructuring and rescheduling the debt Kenya owes China.


"I support this Chinese issue and when the planes are full, we can put them in wheelbarrows. Is there an African hawker in Beijing? And I want to put them on notice that we will not only send them away but the debt we owe them. We must sit down and discuss and restructure and reschedule," Kuria said.