- After a successful stint in Nairobi running since March 2023, China Square Limited expanded operations to Mombasa.
- The highly anticipated launch happened Tuesday, August 20th in Mombasa’s Nyali Bazaar Mall.
- China Square Mall was thronged with enthusiastic shoppers anxious to take advantage of opening sale offers.
- The fanfare was shortlived as the shopping center was closed immediately due to security concerns.
China Square Mombasa closed because of an escalator problem
China Square management on Tuesday closed its Mombasa branch citing safety concerns inside the building.
The much-anticipated shopping outlet had only been open for hours. In a statement posted on its official Instagram handle, China Square management said:
“We apologize for the early closure on our much-anticipated opening day. Unfortunately, we encountered a technical problem with our escalator, which presented a safety concern. After careful consideration, we decided that your safety is far more important than any sales opportunity.”
During its grand opening, the Mombasa-based outlet had hundreds of shoppers inside. Videos and reports from the mall show increasingly chaotic crowds.
Some shoppers criticized the mall’s poor management, citing incidents of shoplifting and dangerous stampedes.
More hurdles for China Square as it launches operations in Mombasa
China Square’s entry into Kenya remains a subject of serious controversy in Kenya since its arrival in early 2023.
China Square was an instant sensation in Kenya because of its ridiculously cheap commodities. Inside the mall, Kenyans could buy clothes, suitcases, cutlery, electronic appliances, and gadgets at almost 50% lower than normal rates.
Angry local traders staged demos in Nairobi city center against the mall’s operations. According to the bewildered traders, China Square was pricing them out of business.
Irate youth and women traders marched to the Deputy President’s office along Harambee Avenue calling for an end to what they termed as a ‘Chinese invasion’.
China Mall was the number 1 trend in Kenya’s social media networks, sparking conversation on the low-priced commodities.
While calling out local businesses for exorbitant pricing, Kenyan consumers pledged loyalty to the Chinese business.
The timing of China Mall was more than precise as it came to Kenyans’ rescue when the cost of living was increasingly becoming unbearable.
China Square founder Lei Cheng defended his business from the raging local traders saying that his business entered the Kenyan free market and was committed to healthy competition.
According to Mr. Lei, he had complied with all government regulations and his business was 100% legal.
The biting political heat and controversy compelled the then-trade minister Moses Kuria to address the issue.
To appease traders, Moses Kuria said that the Chinese were only welcome to Kenya’s manufacturing space and not retail.
China Square was subsequently closed for investigations by Kenya’s Anti-Counterfeit Authority. The Kenya China Chamber of Commerce would later issue a statement announcing that an amicable decision had been reached with the Chinese business community.
Over a year later, there is still hope for the reopening of the China Square Mombasa branch, which closed shortly after its launch.
