President William Ruto has defended Kenya’s open-door investment policy, saying foreign investors and workers have a place in the country as long as they operate within the law.
Ruto said Kenya would continue welcoming investors from across the world despite growing debate over the role of foreigners in the country’s economy and labour market.
Speaking in Chebunyo, Bomet County, on September 12, 2026, Ruto said his administration had deliberately removed barriers that previously discouraged investment.
“Kenya is very open for business. We have gone out of our way to make sure that we create an environment for investment and for working with many development partners, many private sector people in the development of our country,” he said.
The President said the government had also taken steps to reduce bottlenecks affecting investors, arguing that the measures had contributed to a significant rise in foreign direct investment.
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“All investors have space in Kenya. We have gone out of our way to eliminate barriers, to remove bottlenecks that have impeded investment in our Republic,” Ruto said.
According to the President, foreign direct investment into Kenya has increased from $1.6 billion to $3.2 billion over the past three years.
“And because of what we have done over the last three years, Foreign Direct Investment that has come into this country, including what Amsons Group has done, has grown from 1.6 billion dollars to 3.2 billion dollars,” he said.
Ruto said Kenya was now targeting to double the figure again, citing several major investment commitments already in the pipeline.
“In fact, we are looking at doubling that Foreign Direct Investment next year because of some of the other investments that are already… that we’ve already signed,” he said.
Among the projects he highlighted is a proposed $16 billion investment by Dangote, which he said would involve the construction of a refinery in Lamu.
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“One of them being, end of this month, we will be signing a 16-billion-dollar commitment by Dangote to build a refinery in Lamu, and many others that are on course,” Ruto said.
Ruto addresses foreign workers debate
Ruto’s remarks come amid an increasingly heated debate over foreigners working and operating businesses in Kenya.
The President said Kenya’s membership in regional and continental trading blocs meant it could not close its doors to citizens of partner countries.
“As citizens of this country, we are believers in the East African Community, we are believers in COMESA and the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.
“Citizens of all these trading zones, whether it is EAC or COMESA or AfCFTA, are free to invest in our country. They are free to work in Kenya within the rules that are provided for in Kenya,” he added.
Ruto, however, stressed that foreign nationals must comply with Kenyan laws governing employment, investment and immigration.
He said the government would ensure that everyone operating in the country was treated fairly while enforcing the relevant regulations.
“Every person, from wherever they come from, will be treated fairly in accordance with the law and made to comply with the regulations governing employment in Kenya, investment in Kenya, visit to Kenya,” he said.
The President listed tourists, workers and investors among foreigners who must operate within the established legal framework.
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“Whether they are tourists, whether they have come to work, or whether they have come to invest,” Ruto said.
No violence against foreigners
Ruto also warned Kenyans against taking the law into their own hands when dealing with foreigners accused of operating illegally.
“No citizen has a right to take the law into their hands and harm other people from other areas,” he said.
He maintained that any complaints involving foreigners should be handled through the relevant government agencies and existing legal mechanisms.
Ruto said Kenya would maintain its reputation as an open economy while ensuring that those coming into the country respected its laws.
“We will continue to be an open society because that is the DNA of Kenya,” he said.
