Moses Kuria Corners Matiang'i Amidst Plan To Close China Square

Kuria tasked the embattled former CS with explaining how he...

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Feb 25, 2023 - 11:46
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Moses Kuria Corners Matiang'i Amidst Plan To Close China Square
Collage of former Interior CS, Fred Matiang'i, Trade CS Moses Kuria and China Square Mall. /VIRALTEAKE

Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has put former Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang'i on the spot regarding the viral China Square, a newly opened store at Kenyatta University’s Unicity Mall in Nairobi.

In a short statement on Saturday, February 25, Kuria tasked the embattled former CS with explaining how he allocated work permits to Chinese traders, amidst plans to lock them out of the shopping facility.

"Dear Fred Okengo Matiang'i. Why did you issue work permits to the Chinese traders at China Square at Unicity?" he posed.

Entrance to China Square mall. /FILE

In a statement he shared with the public on Friday, February 24, Kuria demanded, in an offer directed towards Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Paul Wainaina, that the university in which the mall is hosted, buys out all spaces from the mall traders and reserves them for local traders.

The move, he added, would prohibit the entry of Chinese traders to take up opportunities that would have otherwise been done by Kenyans.

However, the CS insisted that the doors were open for Chinese manufacturers and not traders in a bid for the government to collaborate with foreign powers in matters to do with trade.

"I have today given an offer to Prof. Wainaina the VC Kenyatta University to buy out the lease for China Square, Unicity Mall and hand it over to the Gikomba, Nyamakima, Muthurwa & Eastleigh Traders Association. We welcome Chinese investors to Kenya as manufacturers, not traders," he stated.

Buying out the lease means paying the current tenants or leaseholders a sum of money in exchange for terminating their lease agreements, after which the properties would be transferred to the local traders.

By offering to hand over the lease of China Square and Unicity Mall to local traders' associations, he seemed to be advocating for a more localized approach to commerce in Kenya.

The mall, located next to Kenyatta University is said to be a hub for products and businesses, selling everything from electronics to clothing.

China Square gained attention for creating a versatile shopping centre that some social media users claimed was challenging the dominance of Eastleigh, Kamukunji, and Dubois Road in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).

The Gikomba, Nyamakima, Muthurwa, and Eastleigh Traders Associations, which Kuria mentioned in his tweet, are well-known organizations that represent traders in Nairobi's bustling markets. These markets are often seen as the lifeblood of Kenya's economy, providing affordable goods and services to millions of people as well as supporting livelihoods.

The Thika Road-based mall was a hive of activities as Kenyans flocked to its premises after the online buzz sparked across social media platforms.

The online hype generated around the mall led to long queues which characterised the experience for the customers as Kenyans from different parts visited the mall, described as a one-stop shop for several products.

Products available in the mall, according to the experiences shared, include stationery, furniture, home decoration items, cleaning supplies, hardware store and electrical appliances. 

China Square's entry into the Unicity Mall came after a prolonged period of waiting for the mall to have a substantive tenant.

Despite being launched in 2016, the facility struggled to thrive as an established shopping hub owing to the high number of shopping malls sprouting along Thika Road.

Entrance to Unicity shopping mall. /FILE

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