Entertainment

27 February 2023

• The outlet had on Saturday said that the shop would only remain closed on Sunday but normal operations would resume on Monday.

• The business entity (China Square) has been the talk of the town after reports went rife that it was selling commodities at cheaper and affordable rates.

Kenyans are conflicted about why the government is 'fighting' China Square.

The retail and wholesale store located at the Kenyatta University's UniCity Mall has been an attraction site to many since its launch a few weeks ago.

The government through the Investments, Trade, and Industry Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kuria has indicated that they want China Square out of the Kenyan market.

He urged Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Paul Wainaina to buy out the lease for the establishment. Unicity Mall was built by Kenyatta University.

“I have today given an offer to Wainaina the VC Kenyatta University to buy out the lease for China Square, Unicity Mall and hand it over to the Gikomba, Nyamakima, Muthurwa l, and Eastleigh Traders Association,” Kuria said on Friday.

The business entity (China Square) has been the talk of the town after reports went rife that it was selling commodities at cheaper and affordable rates.

The reports saw hundreds of Kenyans troop to Unicity mall owned by Kenyatta university to have an experience of China Square, a move that Kenyan traders felt will elbow them out of business.

On Sunday, the store announced that it has indefinitely suspended its operations.

Below are some of the reactions by Kenyans

@MajimajiKenya: The solution to China Square is not to close or remote control the prices! It is the government to find out why consumers have been buying the same commodities at exploitative prices. China Square should open branches all over the country.

@nai_gossipclub: It's so strange that the government is fighting against China Square for selling things at cheaper prices. They're literally fighting against reduced cost of living. China Square is just a pawn in the game.

@iamjuddah: The same government claiming that the cost of living has gone high is fighting against China Square for selling things at a cheaper price to protect their Nyamakima and Gikomba businesses, and it's the same government creating offices in the government for their wives. WE MESSED

@ahmednasirlaw: Our policies should not have "a racist" undertone. CS @HonMoses_Kuria is obviously wrong in his onslaught against Mr. Lei Cheng of China Square. "Kenya is open for business" is Kuria's mantra, yet he is at war with Cheng for succeeding in his business model (selling cheapest).

@MigunaMiguna: 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 BANKS?

Why would China Square be closed because it sells consumer goods at competitive prices? Closing it would be anti-poor people. Kenyan businesses must COMPETE or perish!

@MainaMugwe2: I support kuria on this...Chinese cannot be the manufacturer, importer and a retailer while sending the profit back to their country.