RUTO CALLS SULUHU OVER TANZANIA’S NEW BUSINESS LAWS TARGETING FOREIGNERS

President William Ruto has placed a diplomatic call to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan following the controversial enactment of new business laws that bar non-citizens from operating in several sectors in Tanzania.
The new regulations, introduced under the Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025, prohibit foreigners from engaging in 15 key sectors, including mobile money operations, small-scale mining, salon and beauty services, retail shops, courier services, and tour guiding. The laws, which came into effect this week, have sparked concern among Kenyan traders operating across the border.
President Ruto reached out to President Suluhu to express Kenya’s concerns over the move, which may contravene the East African Community (EAC) Common Market Protocol that guarantees member states the right to establish businesses and provide services across borders.
Trade and Investment Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui also released a formal statement calling on Tanzania to review the law, stating:
“We urge our neighbors to reconsider these provisions, which risk undermining the spirit of regional cooperation and economic integration.”
The affected Kenyan traders—many of whom have invested in Tanzanian cities like Arusha, Mwanza, and Dar es Salaam—have expressed fears of forced business closures, job losses, and financial ruin.
While Tanzanian officials maintain the new law is meant to protect local enterprises, Kenya insists such moves must align with binding regional treaties.
The development comes amid rising scrutiny over trade barriers within the EAC bloc, with calls for the regional leadership to convene an emergency summit to address the escalating tensions.