Kenya’s government sought to reassure foreign traders that they have legal protection to operate in the country after President William Ruto raised doubts over their status in East Africa’s biggest economy. Ruto reportedly ordered authorities to begin shutting down foreign-owned businesses from Sept. 7 as part of a move to restrict small-scale retail to Kenyans. However, the principal secretary for foreign affairs on Sunday said the president’s comments related to a debate about proposed employment legislation.

Ruto reportedly made the remarks last week, days before ordering Tata Chemicals to leave the country, accusing it of failing to create jobs and process minerals locally.

The president, who will seek a second term in a poll next August, has increasingly focused on employment and wealth creation in his reelection pitch. He took office four years ago, after an election campaign in which he vowed to improve the lives of the poorest Kenyans. But his popularity plummeted amid tax hikes that prompted street protests.

— Alexis Akwagyiram