By TIMOTHY MBAYA
Awendo MP Walter Owino has said that Kenyans are not against foreign nationals coming to invest in the Country.
This is after Starehe MP Charles Njagua’s speech in a viral video threatened the relationship between Kenya and its neighbours.
In the video, Njagua called for the forceful eviction of foreign national engaging in small scale trade, sparking an international debate.
Hon. Owino who was speaking in Awendo Saturday urged more foreigners to come and invest in the Country and help in the growth of our economy.
The MP said as a developing Country, Kenya cannot grow on its own and needed the input of foreign investors to help propel its steady growth.
He said everyone is free to visit Kenya but urged the foreigners to obey the Country’s laws during their stay in the country.
According to the legislator, some immigrants had taken the country’s hospitality for granted and were engaging in illegal trade in the Country that was hurting local small scale traders.
He said it was unfair for the foreigners to engage in the retail business which can be done by locals in the country, calling on the government to regulate the kind of business that the foreigners engage in to avert any wars with local traders.
“We cannot have foreigners hawking everything including milk and water along the streets on Nairobi and other towns. These people should be regulated so that they stick to the kind of businesses that they are licensed by the government to do,” said Hon. Owino
The legislator however insisted that foreigners are welcome to Kenya but urged them to be honest in their dealings in the Country.
“Let them do honest business but not interfering with things that can be done with locals,” said the MP.
He added, “This people should be regulated so that they stick to the kind of business that they are licensed to do. Otherwise we really welcome them.”
He urged Kenyans to be keen not to stain the relationship with neighbouring Countries as there were locals who had invested and are doing business in other countries as well.
Starehe MP Charles Njagua is still remanded and has up to Wednesday next week to know whether he will be released on bail pending the hearing of his case.
