China Square owner Lei Cheng has slammed back at Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria’s move to have his business out of the Kenyan market.
The CS had revealed that he had talks with Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Wainaina to buyout the lease and hand it over to local traders following uproar on take-over of local jobs.
“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 and Eastleigh Traders Association. We welcome Chinese investors to Kenya but as manufacturers not traders,” he said.
Lei Cheng said that his business is legal and is centered on healthy competition and has followed all government directives for opening a business in the country.
He noted that his business model is friendly and appeals to many Kenyans, who despite low earnings have to endure the high cost of living.
“The people fighting us feel threatened because Kenyans now know we exist. They know China Square is not in the business of exploiting them.
According to him, China Square has employed 130 people and was shocked to read Kuria’s statement and was never told that Chinese are not allowed to do business in Kenya.
“Kenya is a very good country and its people are friendly. I was very shocked by the Cabinet Secretary’s statement. What he said may slow down foreign investments in Kenya,” he said.
China Square was opened on January 29 and made sales valued at Sh20million in just two weeks which is attributed to the market pricing, social media marketing and referral customers.
According to Lei Cheng, on a bad day the business sells goods worth Sh10million.
Yesterday, the businessman disclosed that he would close the shop today and reevaluate its strategy after revelations that China Square has driven Kenyan traders out of business with underpriced goods.
And in what points to a clear disparity of policy and reading from different scripts within government between Trade, Investments and Industry CS Kuria, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei said no lawful investment actor should be apprehensive of the non-arbitrary and non discriminatory investment regime in Kenya.
“No lawful investment actor- irrespective of their nationality- should be apprehensive because the country’s investment regime is non arbitrary and non discriminatory.” The PS said.
Earlier, Kuria found himself on the receiving end over the controversial push to allow importation of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods into the country that put him into loggerheads with his Agriculture counterpart Mithika Linturi who claimed the pronouncements as inconsequential social media declarations.