- Kenya’s investment promotion and protection regime is equitable, non-arbitrary and non-discriminatory.
- Kuria has indicated that he wants China Square out of the Kenyan market.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei is on a collision course with Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria over China Square supermarket at Unicity Mall along Thika Road.
Sing’oei appears to have come to the defence of China Square, sharply differing with the Investments, Trade and Industry CS.
The PS stated that Kenya’s investment promotion and protection regime is equitable, non-arbitrary and non-discriminatory.
“All actors, no matter their nationality- operating within the law should suffer any apprehension,” he said in a tweet which he has since deleted.
By the time of going to the press, he had not retracted the statement.
He went on to add:
"No lawful investment actor- irrespective of their nationality- should be apprehensive because the country's investment regime is non-arbitrary and non-discriminatory."
Kuria has indicated that he wants China Square out of the Kenyan market.
“We welcome Chinese investors to Kenya but as manufacturers, not traders.”
China Square is currently the cheapest supermarket in the city, according to Kenyans on social media.
The establishment has stocked a wide range of products and services including stationery, furniture, home-decoration items, cleaning supplies, hardware store and electrical appliances.
Because of its lower process, Small-scale traders from Kamukunji, Eastleigh, Luthuli Avenue and Gikomba are said to be planning to hold a 'peaceful' demonstration in the city centre to protest against China Square's looming business dominance.
Kuria has even 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.
He has also blamed former Interior CS Freed Matiang’i for the controversy surrounding China Square.
Kuria claims the former Interior CS is the one who issued permits to Chinese traders at the mall.
“Dear Fred Okengo Matiangi. Why did you issue work permits to the Chinese traders at China Square at Unicity?” he posed on Twitter.