Nairobi, Kenya, Feb 28 – China now says a non-arbitrary and non-discriminatory investment environment is vital to the healthy development of bilateral practical cooperation between the two countries.
Wu Peng Director-General, Department of African Affairs, MFA, China said Monday that through collective efforts, the cooperation will also benefit Kenya.
The statement by Peng comes amidst wrangles between a Chinese businessman and Kenya’s Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria on the operations of the China Square, a retail store at Kenyatta University’s Unicity Mall.
He was responding to sentiments by Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’oei who assured investors of a conducive business environment as long as due process is adhered to in setting up their businesses in the country.
“I welcome the statement by Korir Sing’oei. A non-arbitrary & non-discriminatory investment environment is vital to the healthy development of bilateral practical cooperation. I believe that through collective efforts, China-Kenya cooperation will better benefit both peoples,” Peng said.
The ongoing drama has threatened to cause a diplomatic tiff between the two countries who have heavily invested in the country in the recent years.
On Sunday China Square extended the suspension of its operations citing public safety challenges.
The store owned by Chinese businessman Lei Cheng announced the move on after hours of escalating drama following deportation threats by Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria.
“As a supermarket, we are unable to handle the high volume of traffic, which has become a severe concern for the public safety of all our customers, we are arranging more security guards onsite,” China Square said in a statement.
The supermarket also cited inability to provide sufficient payment processing facilities, a situation it noted had resulted in long queues which had negatively impacted customer experience.
Earlier on Lei had dismissed calls for him to close shop as malicious.
Lei said his business is compliant to all legal requirements.
“My business is legal and is centered on health competition,” he said. “We followed all government requirements for setting up a business and a here to break monopolies.”
Lei blamed his accusers saying they were seeking to perpetuate the continued exploitation of the Kenyan consumer by rogue businesspersons.
He responded even as Kuria vowed to deport him and any foreign national engaged in retail trade, terming his Unicity Mall store as a threat to local traders.
Kuria’s intervention followed a protest memorandum by a business association bringing together representatives of traders in Nairobi’s leading markets.
