Feature: Kenyan consumers sample Chinese products ahead of Spring Festival

The slick Huawei smartphones that were on display at an exhibition held on Friday in the popular high end mall, Yaya Centre, in Nairobi drew the attention of young window-shoppers like Kevin Mwaniki and his best friend.

Mwaniki and his long-time friend joined a sizeable crowd that milled around the exhibition booth for Huawei phones and patiently engaged with the sales team to enquire about their prices and quality.

During an interview with Xinhua, the linguistics graduate from a local university, said he has been using Huawei smart phones since he secured a well paying job three years ago.

"To be honest, I was not aware there was an exhibition for Chinese products and just bumped into it while on a stroll inside the shopping mall. The Huawei stand was conspicuous and we decided to check on the latest phones on offer," said Mwaniki.

He disclosed that the latest version of Huawei phone impressed him and he planned to purchase it online before the end of February.

The young and upwardly mobile professional revealed his taste for the fine things in life and a stroll along glitzy shopping malls is his favorite ritual.

Mwaniki's best friend who identified himself in his first name, Eston, said he was also impressed by different models of Huawei smart phones on display.

"It is a coincidence this exhibition took place when I was planning to buy a new phone. I have been comparing different brands and will soon decide which one suits me most," said Eston, adding that purchasing a Huawei smart phone was not off the table.

Indimuli Lokan, a Kenyan marketing executive with Huawei, gave an upbeat assessment on the market for smart phones, adding that sales could go up this weekend.

"We are hoping more clients will visit our stand and buy their favorite phones. Based on our audience with the clients, there is a possibility they will come back and purchase smart phones on offer," said Lokan.

Chinese firms that have established a large footprint in Kenya displayed their wares in order to woo Kenyan consumers.

Organizers said more than ten companies were participating in the exhibition to showcase Chinese wares ahead of the New Year Celebrations on Monday.

Yao Hua, the event's organizer, said showcasing Chinese wares to the Kenyan people was part of a larger goal to enhance people to people interaction ahead of the Spring Festival.

"Globalization has brought the world closer and we are showcasing Chinese products to Kenyans and other nationalities in the run up to the New Year celebrations,"Yao told Xinhua.

She added the eleven-day exhibition will provide an opportunity for Chinese firms to raise their visibility in Kenya.

Kenyans who trooped at the exhibition to showcase Chinese products were impressed by their quality and modest pricing.

Linda Norah, a Kenyan sales executive with Longtron, a Chinese firm that deals with electronics, said response from the early morning shoppers was positive.

"So far, we have received a positive feedback from Kenyan clients and some of them not only made bulk orders, but also promised to alert their friends about this exhibition," Norah told Xinhua.

Her Chinese boss Xu Huanken who is the General Manager at Longtron said he was impressed by the high number of Kenyans who expressed interest in buying products like toners and power banks.

"It was unbelievable that ten minutes after we opened our exhibition booth, a client bought an expensive product from us," Xu disclosed to Xinhua.

He noted the demand for quality electronic gadgets in Kenya is on the rise, thanks to higher purchasing power among the country's middle classes.

Chinese firms have positioned themselves strategically to enhance their presence in the Kenyan market.

Edison Xie, the Deputy Manager of a Chinese Property developer, China Sichuan International Corporation Limited (SIETCO), said demand for high-end apartments in Kenya has spiked.

"We consider Kenya a young market with potential for growth. The property market here has been on a rebound and the trend will continue as incomes among urban middle classes rise," Edison remarked.

He revealed that well heeled Kenyans who engaged him at the exhibition booth expressed a desire to own an apartment in the Nairobi's leafy suburbs. Endit