Kenya on Tuesday issued a new directive freezing the issuance of work permits to foreigners in the country.

Fred Matiang'i, cabinet secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government said foreigners seeking to work in Kenya will be required to apply for a work permit while in their country of origin before they can travel to take up their assignment in the country.

"We want all our visitors to come through the door and not through the window. The work permit regime has totally changed and it will remain that way," Matiang'i said during the launch of the Kenya Institute of Immigration Studies at the University of Nairobi.

This is a new directive unlike before when foreigners would be issued with one at the Immigration Department in Nairobi but Matiang'i said this is a move meant to curb mischief by foreigners who come to the country on a tourist visa but end up extending their stay as they apply for a work permit.

"We are not against immigrants, but we want right visitors who obey the law," said Matiang'i, stressing that the government will not issue work permits to foreigners for jobs which Kenyans are skilled in.

"We will also not issue or renew thousands of permits to those people pursuing courses such as accountancy and tour guide courses, among others, which are taught locally," he added.

The Kenyan official said the new reforms in immigration are already being applied. This follows the administrative and policy changes recommended in November.

An operation targeting 4,000 illegal immigrants in the country began in May, with Matiang'i saying those found without proper documents would be deported.

The government had asked all foreigners to undergo fresh registration, in a bid to nab those who are illegally in the country.

The Kenyan official said the government is in the process of establishing a digital record that will help authorities track foreigners working in the country and more so those who may engage in criminal activities.

The Kenyan authorities have intensified the ongoing crackdown on undocumented migrant workers that have seen homes raided and hundreds of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers arrested around the country.

The country's immigration department has also set up a hotline number for citizens to report irregular migrants in their neighborhoods and the authorities' actions have mostly affected refugees and asylum seekers.