- Homa Bay educationist Evans Matata says the crackdown could weaken cultural exchange and regional integration.
- Masinde Muliro University lecturer Dr Darimus Ogolla warns the issue could affect perceptions among international students.
- The concerns come amid government action targeting foreign small-scale traders operating without proper work permits.
An educationist from Homa Bay County has criticised the government over the move targeting small-scale foreign traders from East African Community (EAC) countries operating in Nairobi and other towns.
Evans Matata said the move could indirectly undermine the spirit of education and regional integration, which he described as a key window to the outside world.
He said President William Ruto might have had good intentions in seeking to regulate foreign traders operating on the streets, but argued that sending them back to their countries could undermine the spirit, vision and goals of East African Community cooperation.
Matata said the presence of other East African nationals in Kenya enhances learning, cultural exchange and integration.
His sentiments were echoed by Masinde Muliro University don Dr Darimus Ogolla, who termed the move untimely and asked President Ruto to consider it from a wider perspective.
Dr Ogolla said the move could permeate higher learning institutions and propagate undue animosity towards international university students studying in Kenya.
“Let the President make clear his stand on this matter before it brings an opposite result from what was anticipated,” he said.
Calls for peaceful coexistence
A group of members of the public under Bunge la Mwananchi, led by Samuel Okal, called for peace to prevail in the country by encouraging the spirit of coexistence.
The concerns come amid uncertainty among some East African nationals following the government’s crackdown on foreign small-scale traders operating without proper work permits. The government has, however, said the exercise should not result in xenophobia or harassment and has announced a temporary amnesty for undocumented East Africans to regularise their status.
EAC built around regional cooperation
The first East African Community was established in 1967 by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania before collapsing in 1977.
Efforts to revive regional cooperation eventually led to the signing of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community on November 30, 1999, in Arusha, Tanzania. The Treaty entered into force on July 7, 2000.
Rwanda and Burundi became full members in 2007, South Sudan followed in 2016 and the Democratic Republic of Congo joined in 2022. Somalia, which was missing from the original copy, became the EAC’s eighth Partner State in 2024.
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The Community seeks to widen and deepen economic, political, social and cultural integration among Partner States. Its integration agenda encompasses the Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union and ultimately Political Federation.
By Enock Okong’o
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