Hundreds of small traders protested on Tuesday, February 28, in the streets of downtown Nairobi, Kenya. They denounced the competition, unfair according to them, of the Chinese traders, more and more numerous on the market. They call on the Kenyan authorities to act to protect them.
With our correspondent in Nairobi, Florence Morice
You can barely see him behind his huge sign, which reads ” The Chinese must go “. Patrick, 35, sells electronics. ” They sell their products cheaper than us to steal our customers “, he launches. Less expensive… and for the same products. Eric Githinji runs a hi-fi equipment store imported from China. He denounces unfair competition:
” The people we buy our goods from come to our country and start selling the same goods for less. And since they are the ones who manufacture these products, they have lower costs in the distribution circuit. So an amp that I’m going to sell for $500, they sell the same one for $300. They manufacture, they distribute, they sell wholesale, retail. What will become of us as Kenyans? »
In the middle of the procession, Justus Mutiso goes with the other demonstrators towards the avenue where the office of the vice-president is. He came to demand that the Kenyan state take measures to protect him: We want him to understand how much we suffer. The Chinese have invaded our market. We invite them here, but as manufacturers, not as traders. »
While the controversy swells in Kenya, the owner of the largest shopping center run by Chinese has decided, since Sunday February 26, to remain closed ” for security reasons “.
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