Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja has asked the national and county governments to withdraw permits of foreigners engaging in retail businesses.
The Senator argues that foreigners have denied Kenyans opportunities to earn income by entering the small scale businesses.
He has now petitioned the Interior Cabinet Secretary and five urban-based County Governments to push for the revocation of the permits within 14 days failure to which he will take an unspecific action.
He insisted that there is no way the government will allow foreigners to continue engaging in the retail business when millions of Kenyan youth are employed.
“The County Governments which give out permits to those businesses and premises must revoke them within the next 14 days. Our traders have had enough.
"We must be a country that values our people before we roll out the red carpet to foreigners who are doing work that Kenyans can do, they contribute to the increase of unemployment and lack of opportunities,” the legislator stated, as quoted by Capital FM.
He also commended Matiang’i following the deportation of 6 Chinese nationals who were undertaking trade in Gikomba market.
He further said that it is the duty of the national and county governments to ensure that the local population benefits from the fruits of devolution and foreigners must stick to immigration requirements when they land in the country.