Kenya’s Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria sparked a heated debate over the weekend after making a statement to lock out Chinese traders from the newly launched China Square Mall.
The CS, who claims that the government is open to partnering with foreign powers in spurring trade in Kenya, demanded that Kenyatta University buy out the mall’s lease and reserve it for local traders.
The announcement came days after a publicised online uproar by Kenyans who aired their reservations against the perceived take-over of local jobs by Chinese traders.
The Thika Road-based mall was quickly filled with Kenyans who flocked to its premises after the online buzz. Long queues characterised the experience for the customers as Kenyans from different parts visited the mall to purchase a variety of items including stationery, furniture, home decoration items, cleaning supplies, hardware store and electrical appliances.
The launch of the mall however ignited a debate on the possibility of it affecting businesses in Nairobi’s Kamukunji and Eastleigh shopping centres where hundreds of Kenyans are employed.
China Square’s entry into the Unicity Mall, which is owned by Kenyatta University, came after a prolonged period of waiting for the mall to have a substantive.
