If he forms the next administration, Deputy President William Ruto says he will deport Chinese nationals engaged in enterprises that Kenyans can accomplish.
Dr. Ruto, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential candidate, spoke at the Kenya Kwanza Alliance Nairobi Economic Forum at Ngong Racecourse, arguing that Chinese will never invest in retail, maize roasting, kiosks, or other small companies, while Kenyans face unemployment.
“Let that not worry you. Those are Kenyan businesses and those engaged in such business, we have enough aeroplanes to deport them back to where they came from,” said Dr Ruto.
“We have agreements with different countries on what level of business or work is to be done by locals and which one is allowed, where one must have work permit, to foreigners. And that level is not selling in kiosks, retail or roasting maize,” he said.
Mr Nelson Iruku, an electronics trader in Nyamakima, had expressed concern that the Chinese were taking over local firms in Nairobi, prompting the DP’s statement.
Mr Iruku stated that the Chinese sell items to traders, and then, after the traders have created a market for the goods, the Chinese come to Kenya to do the same thing, selling cheaply and putting locals out of business.
“They send their children here to take over the market from us yet we cannot be allowed to do the same in China. If there is a law that can outlaw the Chinese to stop engaging in the same business which I can do, then that will help us. We don’t have a problem with other nationals,” said the trader.
