MOMBASA, Kenya—A Mombasa clearing agent has urged the government to extend President William Ruto’s directive targeting foreign nationals operating small-scale businesses to the shipping and logistics sector at the Port of Mombasa.
Khamis Mwaguya welcomed the President’s decision to crack down on foreign nationals engaged in hawking and other small-scale trading activities, saying Kenyan traders should be protected from competition in businesses that can be undertaken by locals.
However, he said the same principle should apply to the port, where he claimed foreign-owned clearing and forwarding companies have taken up opportunities that could provide employment and business opportunities for Kenyan youth.
“Clearing and forwarding business in the shipping sector has equally suffered. Most of the giant firms doing the business are foreigners. President Ruto should escalate the same directive to this multimillion sector for our young people to get these local jobs and earn a living,” Mwaguya said.
He called for an audit of licences and ownership structures among clearing and forwarding companies and stronger enforcement of local-content requirements to establish whether Kenyan businesses and professionals are benefiting adequately from the port economy.
Mwaguya’s remarks follow Ruto’s directive issued on Wednesday, September 2, during a meeting with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) traders at State House, Nairobi.
The President said foreign nationals should not be allowed to compete with Kenyans in small-scale businesses such as hawking and retail trading, arguing that Kenya’s efforts to attract foreigners were intended to promote investment, create jobs and grow the economy.
Ruto said the government would begin administrative measures against foreign hawkers and small-scale traders from next week as Parliament considers legislation seeking to regulate the economic activities open to foreign nationals.
He directed Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui to oversee the implementation of the measures, with enforcement expected to begin on Monday, September 7.
The President also tasked National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah with engaging the Immigration Principal Secretary to establish the conditions under which foreign investors and traders are issued permits to operate in Kenya.
Ruto said the proposed legislation should be scrutinised by traders and other stakeholders before its passage to ensure loopholes are closed.
The Local Content Bill, 2025, currently before Parliament, seeks to increase Kenyan participation in economic activities and provides for local-content requirements covering sectors including transport, warehousing and logistics.
The proposed legislation would require foreign companies covered by the framework to source specified goods and services locally and maintain a significant proportion of Kenyan employees, subject to the provisions of the Bill.
For Mombasa, the debate has particular significance given the central role of the Port of Mombasa in Kenya’s trade and the wider East African logistics network.
The port supports a large chain of businesses beyond cargo handling, including clearing and forwarding, transportation, warehousing and other logistics services.
Mwaguya argues that enforcement of local-content rules in these sectors could open more opportunities for Kenyan entrepreneurs and young professionals, shifting the focus of the current debate from small roadside businesses to participation in the country’s larger logistics economy.
