On Tuesday, over a thousand Kenyan merchants demonstrated against Chinese merchants in the nation’s capital, Nairobi.
The demonstration follows controversy caused by the opening of China Square, a general item retailer with prices that are, according to local media, often 45 percent less than those of locally owned businesses.
China is Africa’s main trading partner, and it is estimated that there are more than 1 million Chinese living there.
During William Ruto’s victory in the presidential election last year, attention was focused on Kenya’s relationship with China. Ruto pledged to expel Chinese people who were working illegally and to expose government contracts reached with China under his predecessor.
The traders marched to the vice president’s office and to parliament while wearing the dust coats they use in their retail locations to present a petition against the Chinese retailers.
“The Chinese cannot be importers, retailers, wholesalers, and hawkers,” read one placard held aloft during the protest. Some chanted “Chinese must go!”
Moses Kuria, Kenya’s trade minister, has proposed taking over China Square’s lease from its Chinese owner and handing it over to local traders, but Korir Sing’oei, the ministry of foreign affairs’ principal secretary, emphasized on Twitter that all investors are welcome, regardless of their nationality.
On Twitter, Wu Peng, the top African representative at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, praised Sing’oei’s assurance.
Lei Cheng, the proprietor of China Square, reportedly told a local newspaper that he was motivated to open the store because he thought the pricing at a Nairobi supermarket were outrageous.
In November, Ruto carried out his campaign promise to release information about $3 billion in financing for a contentious Chinese railway that was constructed by his predecessor.
