Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has assured the Chinese government that Chinese nationals living and working in Kenya remain safe.
Murkomen gave the assurance on Thursday, September 10, during bilateral discussions with China’s Vice Minister for Public Security, Qi Yanjun.
The meeting focused on strengthening security cooperation between Kenya and China, including the use of technology to address emerging forms of crime and improving joint efforts against transnational organised crime.
Murkomen noted that many Chinese nationals are currently living and working in Kenya, including contractors, employees and individuals involved in major infrastructure projects.
He emphasized that Kenya and China have maintained a longstanding partnership in security and law enforcement. The cooperation includes police training, capacity building, counterterrorism efforts and initiatives targeting organised crime across borders.
The reassurance comes amid increased attention on foreign nationals operating businesses in Kenya without the required permits.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi recently warned that the government would take action against anyone who harasses or threatens foreign nationals or interferes with their businesses.
Mudavadi also urged foreign business owners to comply with government efforts to regularize their documentation.
He clarified that Kenya was not imposing a blanket prohibition on foreigners operating small businesses. Instead, the government is seeking to ensure that foreign participation in the sector complies with Kenyan law and the East African Community Common Market Protocol.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary also condemned attacks targeting Burundian nationals, saying such incidents should not be viewed as representative of Kenya’s relationship with fellow Africans.
President William Ruto had earlier directed the government to conduct a 90-day exercise to regularize foreign nationals engaged in business activities in the country.
According to State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, the directive seeks to protect economic opportunities for Kenyans while ensuring that foreign nationals who are legally residing and conducting business in Kenya have their rights protected.
The latest Kenya-China security discussions therefore come at a time when the government is seeking to balance protection of local economic opportunities with the safety and rights of foreign nationals living and working in the country.