Kenyatta University student leaders have come out to defend retailer China Square which has been temporarily closed down.
KU Secretary general Thiong'o Muiruri warned against the shut down saying the retailer should be left to continue with the business.
"For donkey years, the unicity mall has remained under-utilized, if this was about the government promoting local traders then it would have been done a long time ago," Muiruri said.
On Saturday China Square announced that it had halted operations this Sunday for evaluation of its strategy.
"As a CS, Moses Kuria should know better about the multiplier effects of FDIs, let china square be," he added.
Trade CS Moses Kuria revealed that he engaged Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Wainaina on China Square.
China Square is located at Unicity mall Thika road.
In the past few days, it has taken shoppers by storm attracting criticism from local traders.
The square has the most affordable items, according to Kenyans on social media; all you could want at cheaper prices.
Kuria in a statement on Friday made it clear that as much as the country welcomes Chinese investors, they were here as manufacturers, not traders.
During his talks with Wainaina, Kuria advised him to buy the Square and hand it over to local traders.
"I have today given an offer to Prof 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& Eastleigh Traders Association," he said.
"We welcome Chinese investors to Kenya but as manufacturers, not traders."
