Tensions surrounding the crackdown on small-scale foreign traders have reached a dramatic high live on air during a heated broadcast on Citizen TV.
Government Spokesperson Charles Owino has clashed sharply with news anchor Sam Githuku while attempting to clarify state directives concerning undocumented foreign hawkers.
The exchange has laid bare the immense pressure government officials have faced in defending controversial policy enforcement to the public.
During the tense morning interview, Githuku has pressed Owino regarding executive statements instructing authorities to close unauthorized foreign-owned businesses.
The discussion has quickly escalated into a fiery debate when the anchor has questioned potential contradictions between high-level pronouncements and human rights safeguards.
Visibly frustrated by the relentless line of questioning, Owino has accused the interviewer of twisting facts to create conflict, famously retort, “Why don’t you call the President?” as he rejected claims of mixed messaging from the administration.
This live confrontation has capped off days of intense public scrutiny following President William Ruto’s directive against non-citizens operating informal retail stalls.
Across major urban markets, a section of citizens have moved aggressively to clear foreign vendors, triggering widespread panic within migrant communities.
Hundreds of affected traders, particularly Burundian nationals, have panicked and gathered at foreign embassies to seek emergency travel documents or protection against growing xenophobic hostility.
To manage the fallout, government representatives have scrambled to assure foreign traders that legal compliance, rather than discrimination has remained the primary objective.
Top state officials have since issued strict warnings against harassment, establishing dedicated registration windows for regional traders.
However, the heated television spectacle has highlighted how difficult explaining these policies has become for state communicators.
As scrutiny continues to build, the administration has fought to reconcile immediate domestic economic protections with international diplomatic commitments across East Africa.