Chinese retail company has said it has no intention of harming local businesses operating in Kenya.
China Square director Cheng Lei, while appearing before National Assemby's Trade, Industries and Cooperatives Committee on Tuesday, said his company complements and enhances the business of other retailers in the country.
"We believe that fair competition and a level playing field for all businesses regardless of the country of origin is the best way to protect the interests of all investors," Lei told the James Gakuya-led committee.
Lei said China Square also operates in South Africa, where it was well received and there have been no complaints about its presence.
He said China Square has been open and transparent in its dealings with the local community and has sought to engage with other businesses in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration.
"We have paid over Sh100 million in taxes since we started operations in Kenya," he said.
Lei said the notion they do not sell Kenyan products at all is misplaced.
"We are also selling Kenyan products. We are new in the market and in the future, we will support local manufacturers even more," he said.
"We believe that by working together, we can benefit from a thriving and dynamic retail sector in Kenya."
Lei said China Square focuses on offering a wide range of quality products at affordable prices to Kenyan consumers.
"While some traders feel threatened by our presence, we believe that we can co-exist with other businesses and offer consumers additional choices and value," he said.
Present at the meeting were Principal Secretaries Alfred K'ombundo (Trade) and Abubakar Hassan Abubakar (Investment Promotion).
The establishment has stocked a wide range of products and services including stationery, furniture, home-decoration items, cleaning supplies, hardware store and electrical appliances.
Lei reiterated that they do not intend to drive anyone out of business and believe in healthy competition.
Gakuya sought to know where China Square gets its products at low prices making local retailers unable to compete.
Vice chair of the committee Marianne Kitany asked the firm to come clear on the percentage of local goods being sold in China Square.
"For the goods that are from other countries, we want to know these nations. We want to know which country supplies the most," she said.
Lei said China Square has 154 direct employees, 150 of them being Kenyans and four Chinese.
Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria had said they welcome Chinese investors to Kenya but as manufacturers, not traders.
Kuria had even urged Kenyatta University vice chancellor Paul Wainaina to buy out the lease for the establishment.
Unicity Mall was built by Kenyatta University. China Square commenced business operations in Kenya on January 29, 2023.
It imports goods mainly from China, Turkey and other parts of the world. In South Africa, it has been operating in Johannesburg since 2016.
