President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet has defended foreigners living and doing business legally in Kenya, saying they should be registered and allowed to operate peacefully as long as they comply with the law.
Kibet said the government was not opposed to citizens of neighbouring African countries living or conducting legitimate businesses in Kenya, arguing that the key requirement was compliance with immigration regulations.
“The President said everybody who has come from outside should be registered so that they can live here peacefully, live like other Kenyans and do business,” Kibet said.
He spoke during an empowerment forum at Kong’asis Primary School in Trans Nzoia County, where he challenged narratives portraying the government’s position on foreigners as hostility towards other African nationalities.
Kibet singled out citizens from neighbouring countries, including Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi, and called for peaceful coexistence among people across the East African region.
The government has issued foreign nationals staying in the country a 90 days period to register.
Kibet’s remarks came as a number of political leaders at the forum mounted a spirited defence of the Ruto administration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He urged residents to judge government programmes by their impact on ordinary citizens rather than through ethnic or political lenses.
Trans Nzoia Woman Representative Lilian Siyoi highlighted road projects in Saboti, saying several roads that had remained unpaved for years were now under construction.
She cited the Kipsongo-Kisawai road and a road linking Ndalu to Kiminini attributing the projects to the Ruto administration.
“These are roads we had never seen tarmacked here in Saboti. Now there are contractors on the ground working on them,” Siyoi said.
Siyoi also praised the government’s fertiliser subsidy and called for further measures to make certified seed more affordable for farmers in Trans Nzoia, one of Kenya’s major agricultural counties.
“For us in Trans Nzoia, we are farmers. If the President says he will pay half the cost of seed, then next year every farmer should be able to get seed,” she said.
Kiminini MP Kakai Bisau also defended Ruto’s development record, pointing to road construction, the Kiminini market, affordable housing and healthcare projects.
“We are here as strong supporters of President William Samoei Ruto because we have seen development,” Bisau said.
Bisau, who is seeking the Trans Nzoia governorship in 2027, criticised ethnic politics and urged voters to assess leaders based on development.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa said the 2027 election should be decided by the government’s record and future plans rather than ethnicity or individual personalities.
“Next year’s vote will be based on the development and plans that people have brought to Kenyans,” Barasa said.
Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe backed the administration, citing road construction and reduced fertiliser prices among programmes he said were benefiting residents.
Malava MP David Ndakwa similarly urged residents, particularly women, to support Ruto, citing government initiatives targeting agriculture, markets and education.
