Moses Kuria Makes New Offer To China Square After Controversy
His remarks were a response to the controversy generated after...
Marvin Chege 
Trade and Industrialization Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria on Saturday, February 25 gave the owner of China Square a lifeline for operating in Kenya after his earlier intent to close its operations along Thika Road.
In a statement, Kuria revealed that he would assist the owner, Lei Cheng, to set up a manufacturing plant in Kenya.
“I will assist China Square Owner Mr Cheng to set up a manufacturing plant in Kenya and work on a distribution partnership with Gikomba, Nyamakima, Eastleigh, Kamukunji, Muthurwa and River Road Traders,” Kuria said.
Entrance to China Square mall. /FILE
His remarks were a response to the controversy generated after he 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.
Kuria's remarks notably attracted comments across the divide, with lawyer Miguna Miguna recommending that the ban on China Square in Kenya ought to be extended to businesses owned by other foreign investors as well, including banks.
“If we close down China Square and chase away the owner who gave poor Kenyans alternative competitive options to consumer goods, will we be genuine and extend the ban to white-owned enterprises in Naivasha, Nanyuki, Malindi and the foreign-owned ban?” Miguna wrote.
The newly opened store has been making headlines for its fair prices and is said to be a hub for everything from electronics to clothing with concern that it was cutting out traders in Eastleigh, Kamukunji, and Dubois Road in the Nairobi Central Business District.
Cheng, the store's proprietor, revealed in a recent media interview that he made over Ksh20 million in his first two weeks in business since opening on January 29, 2023.
He attributed this to three factors: genius market pricing, chance social media marketing and referral clients.
"My business is legal and is centred on healthy competition. We have cooperated with all government directives for opening a business in Kenya and we are here to break the monopoly. The people who are fighting us feel threatened because Kenyans now know we exist and we are not exploiting them in pricing,” he stated in response to CS Kuria.
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