NAIROBI, Kenya — Wiper Patriotic Front spokesperson Ndegwa Njiru has urged President William Ruto’s administration to conduct a comprehensive audit of foreign nationals working in Kenya before issuing deportation or removal orders.
Njiru warned that blanket declarations targeting foreign workers could expose legally documented individuals to harassment or attacks by members of the public who may be unable to distinguish between those lawfully in the country and those violating immigration or labour regulations.
Speaking during a local radio discussion on Monday, September 7, 2026, Njiru said the government should first establish which foreign nationals have valid passports, work permits and other required documentation before taking enforcement action.
Njiru calls for audit before deportations
Njiru argued that the government already has legal mechanisms for regulating the movement and employment of foreign nationals and should use them to establish the status of people affected by any deportation orders.
“The first thing you should have done is to have an audit for all these guys,” Njiru said, insisting that the government should obtain accurate data before making public declarations.
He questioned why the President would make a broad declaration on foreign nationals when existing laws and regional agreements provide a framework for regulating the movement and employment of citizens from East African Community member states.
According to Njiru, the government should work with immigration authorities, relevant institutions and foreign embassies to verify the identities and documentation of affected individuals.
He said the responsibility for determining whether a foreign national is legally authorised to work in Kenya should rest with government agencies rather than members of the public.
Warning over attacks on foreign nationals
Njiru said public declarations without adequate verification could create risks for foreign nationals who are legally documented and working within the law.
“A person working on Koinange Street or a person working on Accra Road has no capacity to verify whether this person is documented or not,” he said.
He argued that an ordinary member of the public may not be able to establish whether a foreign worker has a valid passport, work permit or other immigration documents.
Njiru warned that this lack of information could lead to harassment or attacks if members of the public interpret government statements as a directive to target foreign nationals generally.
He said enforcement should instead be based on verified information identifying individuals who are actually in breach of immigration, labour or other applicable laws.
Government should identify undocumented workers
Njiru maintained that the government should conduct a comprehensive audit, compile accurate records and distinguish between documented and undocumented foreign nationals.
Those found to be in violation of the law should then face the appropriate administrative or legal procedures, he said.
The approach, according to Njiru, would allow authorities to enforce immigration and labour regulations without placing legally compliant foreign workers at risk.
He also challenged arguments that the President lacked the capacity to address the issue, saying the government has the institutions and authority required to establish the facts and enforce existing laws.
EAC Common Market rules
The debate also touched on the East African Community Common Market Protocol, which Njiru cited in arguing that Kenya’s actions must take into account the rights and obligations arising from regional integration.
He referred to Article 16 of the protocol while making the case that the movement and employment of citizens within the East African Community should be addressed through established legal and administrative procedures.
The Common Market framework provides for the movement of people and workers among participating East African Community states, subject to the conditions and requirements established under the protocol and national laws.
Njiru therefore argued that the issue should not be handled primarily through political declarations but through verification, documentation and lawful enforcement.
Foreign workers debate
Njiru’s comments come amid a broader debate in Kenya over the presence of foreign nationals, particularly concerns surrounding immigration status, employment opportunities and compliance with work-permit requirements.
The issue has attracted political attention as Kenyans debate competition for jobs and business opportunities, as well as the enforcement of immigration regulations.
Supporters of stricter enforcement argue that foreign nationals who work without the required permits or operate businesses in violation of Kenyan regulations should face action.
Njiru’s position, however, is that enforcement should distinguish between those who are legally documented and those who are not.
