The Kenyan government introduced the Kenyan Immigration Act of 1967 which meant that those without Kenyan citizenship would have to acquire work permits in order to work within the Kenyan economy.

From left to right: Presidents Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta, and Milton Obote

Image: Charleslincolnshire, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Act was targeted at Kenyan Asians that held British passports. Other restrictions were imposed on Kenyan Asians such as the Trade Licensing Act of 1967 which restricted where non-Kenyans could conduct trade in the country. Hostile legislation and discrimination against Kenyan Asians saw many leaving Kenya for Britain and other countries.