Deputy President William Ruto has promised to expunge Chinese traders renting the retail businesses out of the country if elected president in the August contest.

Speaking on Tuesday, 21st June 2022 during Nairobi Economic Forum spearheaded by Kenya Kwanza affiliates, Ruto hinted that there was a need to wade off Chinese traders scrambling for retail businesses at the expense of thousands of Kenyans grappling with the high cost of living for lack of employment opportunities.

He assured to deport the Chinese back to their country if they will occupy micro, small and medium business enterprises that ought to be occupied by low-income Kenyan earners and underprivileged families across the country.

“Let that not worry you. Those are Kenyan businesses and for those engaged in such business, we have enough airplanes to deport them back to where they came from” Ruto said.

Among businesses mentioned not to be owned by foreigners includes; selling in kiosks, retails or maize roasting, etc.

“We have agreements with different countries on what level of business or work is to be done by locals and which one is allowed, where one must have a work permit, to foreigners. And that level is not selling in kiosks, retail or roasting maize, selling of second-hand clothes etc,” said Ruto.

Ruto assures hustler nation of support

Ruto also assured to pump hustler empowerment fund of ksh50B to micro, small and medium business enterprises yearly, which seeks to diversify small businesses and in turn create jobs for thousands of unemployed youths across the country.

Through empowerment programs, Ruto hopes to tap unemployed youths into the working bracket and increase the tax collection rate, which will drop the skyrocketing cost of living.

He is set to battle for the country’s apex position with Azimio – One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga, The Roots party presidential hopeful George Luchiri Wajackoyah and Agano Party’s David Waihiga Mwaura.