Nairobi — Senators have urged the Ministry of Trade to have a structured engagement with investors so as to resolve the ongoing tiff between local and foreign investors that has led to the closure of China Square.

A raging debate has been ongoing with elicit reactions emerging after a Chinese Trader rented a mall store along Thika Road that has received warm reception from customers.

Led by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei the legislators insisted on the need to have no bias strategy in promoting foreign business, faulting Trade CS Moses Kuria for the closure of the Chinese enterprise.

"It is my humble plea to the Ministry of Trade and Industrialization to have a structured engagement with the investors to resolve the matter without hurting their businesses since Kenya has a policy enabling an equitable no-bias and protective to the business environment for trade and investment in the country," Cherargei said.

According to the senators, details from the Kenya Investment Authority (KIA) show that the Foreign Direct Investment to Kenya now stands at over Sh200Billion which is invested annually.

They questioned why Chinese traders were being frustrated yet the country has well-established foreign companies such as the Carrefour chain of supermarkets, Java House, and Quickmart supermarket continuing with operations.

"The foreign investors have created employment for the youth and contributed to the Growth of the Kenyan economy and especially at a time when we were being faced with hard economic times," Cherargei stated.

He was flanked by Senators Alexander Mundigi (Embu), Mohammed Faki (Mombasa), Issa Juma (Kwale), James Lomenen (Turkana) , Mohammed Chute (Marsabit) and Mumias East MP Peter Salasya.

Faki expressed that the economic crisis globally and therefore the nation cannot afford to chase away foreign investors who extensively contributed to economic growth.