No More Issuance of Work Permits For Foreigners in Kenya

Foreigners wishing to work in Kenya will no longer be issued with work permits in the country following a directive from Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.

According to the new directive, foreigners wishing to work in Kenya will be required to apply and get work permits from their countries of origin before they can travel into the country.

The directive comes amid ongoing reforms in the immigration department in an effort to try and rid out illegal foreigners who have been staying and working in Kenya.

“We are not against immigrants but we want right visitors who obey the law,” said Mr. Matiang’i.

There has been an increasing alarm over the number of foreigners in the country who have been taking up jobs that Kenyans can effectively do.

Majority of foreigners in Kenya are said to be from China with most of them working at the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) with some being blamed for taking up jobs, including being guards at the station, jobs Kenyans can do.

Other foreigners in the country are said to be from Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and some from the United States working for various non-governmental organizations.

“Arrest those who say they have applied for work permits and are waiting to get their documents. Ask them to go back to their country and wait for their work permits. When they get them, they will come back,” said the CS.

In May this year, the government began a major operation targeting at least 4,000 illegal immigrants who were believed to be living and working in the country. The majority of those who were found without legal documents were sent back to their countries.

The government has also directed that there will be a mandatory PR training course that will be introduced into the curriculum for all immigration officers.