Foreign Companies Enter Kenyan Market Amid Local Competition Concerns - September 2025

China’s Helian Fashion Brands (HLA Group) has launched its first fashion retail outlet in Kenya at The Hub Karen in Nairobi, marking its entry into the African market. In another move, Tanzanian fintech NALA has entered the Kenyan market through partnerships with Equity Bank and Pesalink, aiming to accelerate its presence in the remittance corridor. NALA is utilizing existing payment infrastructures instead of seeking direct approval from the Central Bank of Kenya. These foreign entries come as Kenyan manufacturers express significant concern over increasing competition from foreign imports, primarily from Asia, which they warn could undermine local industries. This issue was highlighted at the 8th Kenya International Industrial Expo (KIIE) 2025 in Nairobi.