Almost 1,000 Kenyan traders protested a new Chinese store in Nairobi on Tuesday, claiming it undercuts their pricing.
Kenyans and other African countries that are growing quickly have been complaining about Chinese competition for a long time.
Last year, after William Ruto won, China-Kenya ties came under fire. However, Ruto promised to get rid of illegal Chinese workers. He also promised to cancel the government contracts that his predecessor had with China.
Furthermore, Kenyan traders are worried over the new China Square outlet outside Nairobi. Chinese-imported curtains are 50% cheaper than local ones.
Merchants made the protest by wearing shop jackets to the Vice President’s Office.
“The Chinese people can’t be importers, retailers, wholesalers, and street salespeople,” claimed one event poster. Chanted “Chinese leave!”
China Square owner Lei Cheng told a local newspaper that he opened the business after observing sky-high pricing at a Nairobi supermarket.
In November, Ruto released records about a controversial Chinese railroad built with a $3 billion loan from his predecessor. Thus making good on a campaign promise.
However, deals like these are usually kept secret. Analysts warned that it could hurt Kenya’s relationship with China, which is its biggest bilateral creditor. China has not said anything about Ruto.
