President William Ruto has ordered a crackdown on foreign nationals engaged in small-scale trading activities in Kenya, aiming to protect local businesses from unfair competition.

• The directive will see administrative action taken starting next week to curb foreigners selling goods like duvets directly to consumers.
• President Ruto met with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) traders at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday, September 2.
• A Bill before Parliament seeks to restrict foreigners from certain trading activities, with Ruto urging public participation to close loopholes.

The Kenyan government has released Sh850.696 million to 425,348 households under the Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CT-OVC) Programme.

• The disbursement covers the July 2026 payment cycle, with each household receiving Sh2,000.
• The funds were released by Gender, Culture and Children Services Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot Cheptumo.
• This programme, part of the wider Inua Jamii National Safety Net Programme, aims to support extremely poor households caring for orphans and vulnerable children to keep them within their families and communities.

The Kenyan government has reduced the consolidated cargo benchmark to Sh2 million, down from Sh2.5 million, in a significant move to ease doing business for traders and SMEs.

• The benchmark for general consolidated cargo is now Sh2 million.
• This agreement was reached following consultations between President William Ruto, traders, and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
• The government will also remove the Advance Cargo Declaration requirement and implement new vetting for consolidators.