Moses Kuria, the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade & Industry has now said he will help the owner of embattled China Square to set up a manufacturing plant in Kenya.

According to Kuria, the investor will then work in partnership with Kenyan traders.

“I will assist China Square Owner Mr Cheng to set up a manufacturing plant in Kenya and work on a distribution partnership with Gikomba, Nyamakima, Eastleigh, Kamukunji, Muthurwa and River Road Traders,” Kuria announced through a tweet on Saturday evening.

The new development comes after the trade CS condemned the “Chinese investor” for trading at the Kenyatta University-owned Unicity mall.  

“I've today given an offer to Prof. Wainaina the VC Kenyatta Uni to buy out the lease for China Square, Unicity Mall & hand it over to the Gikomba, Nyamakima, Muthurwa & Eastleigh Traders Association. We welcome Chinese investors to Kenya as manufacturers, not traders,” he said.

Kuria shifted the blame to former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, questioning why he issued work permits to the Chinese traders during his tenure.

The controversy led China Square - which has been recently receiving a huge number of buyers - to announce its temporary closure on Sunday, February 26.

In a statement on Saturday, China Square told its customers that they will be closed on Sunday so as to “re-evaluate and replan our company strategy, in order to better serve our customers and meet their needs.

“We are also considering the possibility of cooperating with local traders to enhance our offerings and better integrate with the community,” it further stated.

China Square was opened on January 29 and has since seen customers flocking in to buy household items, clothes, electronics and other commodities available in the streets of Nairobi.