(3 minutes read)
Over a thousand Kenyan traders protested in the capital Nairobi recently against Chinese traders against the opening of China Square retail outlet of general merchandise. Traders maintain that prices of products sold out from the outlet, on an average are 45 percent lower than those prevailing in locally owned enterprises, pricing them out from the market. China is Africa’s top trading partner
Over a thousand Kenyan traders protested in the capital Nairobi recently against Chinese traders against the opening of China Square retail outlet of general merchandise. Traders maintain that prices of products sold out from the outlet, on an average, are 45 percent lower than those prevailing in locally owned enterprises, pricing them out from the market. China is Africa’s top trading partner. More than one million Chinese are estimated to reside on the continent, who are mostly engaged in trading activities.
Kenya’s relationship with China was in focus during last year’s presidential election. William Ruto, who won the election, promised to publish government contracts with China entered under his predecessor Kenyatta. He also promised to deport Chinese nationals working illegally in the East African country. Traders marched to the office of the deputy president and parliament to submit a petition against the Chinese retailers, detailing how their businesses are affected by the undercutting of prices of retail goods by the Chinese traders.
There are also voices of protest coming from official sources. Trade Minister Moses Kuria, recently offered to take over China Square’s lease from its Chinese owner and hand it to local traders. However, Korir Sing’oei, the principal secretary at Kenya’s ministry of foreign affairs, said on Twitter that all investors were welcome, irrespective of their nationality.
Read Also:
https://trendsnafrica.com/kenyan-avocados-exports-to-china-on-the-rise/
https://trendsnafrica.com/japan-overtakes-china-as-the-top-lender-to-kenya-in-the-last-two-years/
Wu Peng, the top African official at China’s ministry of foreign affairs, welcomed Sing’oei’s assurance. China Square’s owner Lei Cheng has reportedly told a local newspaper that he was inspired to open the shop after finding the prices at a Nairobi supermarket to be exorbitant. Ruto in his election campaign promised to publish documents related to US$3 billion in loans for a controversial Chinese railway built during the time of his predecessor.
