Discontent brews over small-scale Chinese traders

The firms are also showing interest in smaller sectors such as apparels trade.

Barely a fortnight ago, some local contractors protested against alleged domination of the construction sector by Chinese firms.

“Though the concerns raised by the Kenyan contractors may be contested on the basis that their Chinese counterparts offered better services, it provides an indication of the locals coming to feel that the foreigners are pinching beyond comfort levels,” Mr Shaw said.

He further said: “The Chinese here in Kenya may not get to low economic sectors such as those contested by Namibia but caution must be taken for the sake of any eventualities.”

Some of the local contractors had even demanded that they be provided some form of “protection” against the onslaught of their foreign counterparts.

Kenya Investment Authority (KIA) managing director Susan Kikwai however said although Kenya pushed for the protection of SMEs and growth of other homegrown business enterprises it did not discriminate on investors.

“We are a liberalised economy without controls on how far an investor would go in terms of sectors except for sensitive sectors such as banking and insurance. What we have is a principle requirement that such foreign investment must at least attain the $1 million mark in terms of value,” she told Business Daily.

She said concerns such as those raised by Namibia may be addressed by an upcoming national policy on investment which would seek to help the private sector blossom.

“But as at now I don’t envisage seeing the foreign investors digging to the low end segments such as the SMEs. The minimum value requirement doesn’t provide reason to get down there,” the MD told Business Daily on phone.