Over 120 businessmen have filed a lawsuit challenging the government’s decision of permitting Chinese nationals to open and operate businesses in the country.
They claim that the government has encouraged, aided, and abetted the influx of Chinese nationals into the country and that their establishment of economic activities has jeopardized the survival of their businesses as well as the livelihoods of over 2 million Kenyans and over six million dependents.
They now want the court to issue orders prohibiting the Director of Kenya Citizens and Foreign Nationals Management Services from issuing permits to Chinese nationals.
They also want the court to stop China Square Mall from importing and selling merchandise from Chinese manufacturers and distributors.
Their claim is that China Square Mall was not lawfully granted an investment certificate by the Authority.
“In view of the increasing numbers of Chinese hawkers, shopkeepers, Route Eleven (11) traders, small-scale retailers, wholesalers, and distributors in Nairobi’s Business District East of Tom Mboya Street comprising of River Road, Kirinyaga Road, Kamukunji and Gikomba areas among others, the Applicant is convinced that the process of issuing permits to Chinese citizens has been so corrupted or otherwise compromised by the Kenya Chinese Chambers of Commerce and other Chinese nationals operating businesses in Kenya,” reads court papers
