STANDARDHundreds of traders held demonstrations in Nairobi’s central business district on Tuesday, February 28, citing infiltration of the Kenyan market by Chinese businesspeople.
The traders, drawn from downtown centres, said the Chinese traders had driven them out of business, claiming they were offering goods at extremely low prices.
Demonstrations in Nairobi CBD over what they term as ‘Chinese invasion’ of businesses. pic.twitter.com/0BSTlE21pW
— Ahmed Mohamed ((ASMALi)) (@Asmali77) February 28, 2023
Peris, an electronics dealer at Nyamakima, said: “I’m here to protest against the Chinese traders’ invasion of the Kenyan market. The foreigners are playing the manufacturer and seller’s role at the same time, which shouldn’t be the case. In Kenya, they are the distributors and retailers. They’ve locked us out of business.”
The traders, holding placards and singing, marched through CBD streets, including Harambee Avenue, which hosts the offices of the president and deputy president.
Who knew Kikuyus would be the first people on the streets to protest against the High Cost of Living and the China Invasion during the Hustler Government? #Kiawa
Matiangi Adam and Eve Lei Cheng Kamukunji Erick Omondi Jumia#Carrefour#SayNoToLGBTQinKENYA pic.twitter.com/k9DbUi3eYl— Fred Oteng'o (@vanfredricks) February 28, 2023
Police were forced to repulse them, blocking the traders from holding demos on Haile Selassie Avenue, among other major roads.
The demos come on the back of temporary closure of China Square, a major store on Thika Superhighway that offers various goods at discounted prices.
The closure followed a statement by Trade Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria asking Kenyatta University to reclaim the lease of the store in which China Square operates from.
The university owns the land.