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Kenya Opens September 7 Registration for Undocumented EAC Nationals

9/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Kenya opened a registration window on September 7 2026 for undocumented East African Community nationals, especially Burundians.
Registrants are presumed legally present and may access health, banking, and legal protections.
President William Ruto ordered shutdown of small-scale businesses run by foreign nationals without work permits.
Trade Ministry clarified the order targets only foreigners lacking permits, not all East African.

History

Historical Context

The East African Community was created by a treaty signed on 30 November 1999 and effective 7 July 2000, uniting Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and later Rwanda and Burundi, covering about 133 million people. Building on that framework, President William Ruto launched a September 7 2026 registration drive to legalize undocumented EAC nationals in Kenya, echoing the bloc’s long-standing free-movement goals.

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Story summary

Kenya opened a registration window on September 7 2026 for undocumented East African Community nationals, especially Burundians.
Registrants are presumed legally present and may access health, banking, and legal protections.
President William Ruto ordered shutdown of small-scale businesses run by foreign nationals without work permits.
Trade Ministry clarified the order targets only foreigners lacking permits, not all East African.

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