- Over the past two years, Kenya has had remarkable growth in the retail sector, thanks to increasing Chinese investment.
- Retail chains importing household goods from Chinese hubs such as Guangzhou and Yiwu have introduced affordable, functional products to Kenya’s expanding middle class.
- They are not just changing how Kenyans shop, but also where they shop, realigning commerce in major cities across the country.
- This article offers an in-depth look at the four leading Chinese shopping malls in Kenya and what they offer to local consumers.
1. China Square Mall
China Square is a leading shopping outlet in Kenya that began operations in January 2023.
Starting with its first outlet at UniCity Mall along the Thika Superhighway, the retailer has since expanded to major cities across Kenya, including Mombasa and Kisumu.
The superstore prides itself on offering quality products at competitive prices and has quickly become a hit in Kenya’s local market.
Its grand opening two years ago sparked controversy, drawing protests from local merchants who claimed the mall was undercutting their businesses.
The conflict was intensified by the outlet’s apparent focus on fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), which have long been a vital source of livelihood for small traders in Kenya.
Following temporary closures and last-ditch interventions by the Kenyan government, China Square resumed in full swing.
Its expansive aisles now showcase a spectacular array of top-of-the-line, highly sought-after household goods.
China Square Available Products
Some of the items on sale at China Square Mall include:
- Kitchenware
- House appliances
- Ladies’ handbags, headbands, makeup, perfumes, and other fashion accessories
- Traveling and leisure bags, and suitcases
- Home and interior décor, including carpets, candle holders, chandeliers, flowers, and flower pots
- Safety boots, helmets, ear muffs, reflector jackets, and other protective gear
- Gym and fitness equipment
- Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) cameras
- Hardware tools
- Kids toys
- Clothes of all kinds
- Furniture
China Square Branches
China Square is on a steady expansion campaign, bringing goods to consumers across Kenya, with branches at the following locations:
- Unicity Mall, Thika Road, Nairobi
- Waterfront Mall, Karen Road, Nairobi
- Greenspan Mall, Ower Savanna, Dakar Road, Nairobi
- Two Rivers Mall, Limuru Road, Nairobi
- Hyper Mall, Langata Link Rd, Nairobi
- Nyali Bazaar Mall, Links Rd, Mombasa
- Mega City Mall, Ring Rd, Kisumu
The superstore is also developing an e-commerce platform to enable online shoppers to browse its products and place orders online.
This move is expected to benefit local delivery services, as the store will likely partner with domestic logistics providers for order fulfillment.
2. Panda Mart
Panda Mart is a general‑merchandise retail chain that operates in several African countries, including Kenya.
The chain entered Kenya in early 2024 with a significant investment to set up its first Kenyan store at Garden City Mall (along the Thika Road corridor in Nairobi).
While Panda Mart is a company registered in South Africa, it sources its wares from Chinese exportation hubs, including Yiwu.
Panda Mart Available Products
Having opened a second outlet at Galleria Mall in Nairobi, Panda Mart focuses on products such as:
- Heavy-duty appliances
- Hardware equipment
- High-end cutlery
- Beauty products
- Furniture
- Clothing, shoes, bags, and other accessories
- Home décor
- Electronic products
- Camping gear
Panda Mart employs tens of locals as store attendants, cashiers and is expected to expand to other locations outside Nairobi.
3. China Village
China Village is a recently opened retail outlet at Signature Mall along Nairobi’s Mombasa Road.
The store is growing in popularity, driven by its highly affordable products, including trendy, modern fashion pieces.
To supplement its physical traffic, China Village runs vibrant pages on Instagram and TikTok, seeking to rope in online shoppers to its premises.
China Village Available Products
China Village is making major moves on the Kenyan shopping scene, stocking highly sought-after products such as:
- Power saws
- Cutlery
- Sound systems
- Furniture and office sets
- Interior décor
- Shoes and outfits
- CCTV cameras
- Ring lights and content creation equipment
- Ugali cookers
- Electric/gas cookers
- Drones
- Washing machines and other household equipment
4. MINISO
MINISO is a global lifestyle retailer specializing in everyday consumer goods and is headquartered in Guangzhou, China.
The brand has franchise stores across Africa, including Kenya, where it has a location adjacent to Panda Mart at Garden City Mall along Nairobi’s Thika Superhighway.
Some of its products include stationery, toys, cosmetics, home decor, accessories, and kitchenware.
MINISO is still in its early exploits in Kenya, likely testing the market, but is expected to make significant investments in the coming years.
The growing presence of Chinese retail outlets across Kenya reflects a deepening commercial relationship between the country and the Asian giant, China.
China appears to be diversifying its investment focus beyond large-scale infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, which has driven the proliferation of quality roads across the country.
In early October 2025, President Ruto gave China a major boost in its new economic trajectory in Kenya by launching the construction of the KES 5 billion China-Kenya International Commerce Center.
Once complete, the project is expected to host an exhibition center for Chinese goods and locally-made products.
The commerce center will give Kenya a major boost towards realizing Vision 2030, which aims to transform Kenya into a newly industrializing, middle-income country with a high quality of life for all its citizens.