Personal and household merchandise retailer China Square has launched a 75,000-square-foot outlet at Two Rivers Mall in Nairobi, marking its sixth branch in Kenya as part of its expansion strategy.
The retailer debuted in 2022 with its first store at Kenyatta University’s Unicity Mall, drawing widespread public attention for its competitive pricing.
Since then, it has established additional outlets at:
- The Waterfront Mall, Karen
- Lang’ata Hyper Mall
- Nyali Bazaar Mall, Mombasa
- Mega City Mall, Kisumu
- The retailer’s seventh branch is set to open at Greenspan Mall in Donholm next week.
Strategic Expansion
China Square’s Managing Director, Lei Cheng, highlighted the strategic importance of the Two Rivers Mall location.
“Two Rivers is one of the biggest malls in Kenya, has a lot of potential, and offers good parking,” said Mr. Cheng, adding that the company is exploring further expansion, particularly outside Nairobi.
Boosting Two Rivers Mall
China Square’s entry has significantly bolstered the Two Rivers Mall, which now boasts a 95 percent occupancy rate, according to James Mworia, CEO of Centum Investments Company Plc, one of the mall’s owners.
“The occupancy rate within the mall with the entry of China Square is now above 95 percent. This space was 10 percent of the mall, so it has increased the occupancy from 85 percent,” Mr. Mworia noted.
The retailer joins other major brands at the mall, including French multinational Carrefour, and is expected to drive foot traffic and boost sales for businesses within the shopping complex.
Controversy and Growth
China Square encountered resistance in early 2023 due to its low prices, which provoked criticism from local traders and some political factions.
However, the company has continued to grow its footprint, solidifying its place in Kenya’s retail market.
Centum’s Broader Vision
Centum Investments has also recently attracted Teleperformance, a French services and call center firm, to its Two Rivers International Finance & Innovation Centre (Trific) Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Trific, which received its SEZ license in June 2023, spans 64 acres—more than half of the 106-acre Two Rivers development area.
With the entry of dynamic players like China Square and Teleperformance, Two Rivers Mall is evolving into a vibrant hub for commerce and innovation.
