Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) has kicked off negotiations with China Square to be the anchor tenant at their Mall in Mamboleo, Kisumu.
The Authority Managing Director Wycliffe Ochiaga says they are optimistic of attracting huge human traffic if the negotiations bear fruit.
China Square hit headlines in February last year when Nairobi business people demanded its closure citing unfair competition.
Ochiaga now says they are keen to bring the investor to the lakeside city to spur growth in the region and offer employment opportunities to the locals.
“As we speak today, there are negotiations ongoing with China Square and this will basically act as our anchor tenant,” he said.
Since the completion of the 5 storey mall in 2006, the space for the anchor tenant has not been occupied following unsuccessful attempts to sign a contract with major retail chains.
Ochiaga says the supermarket, which is currently running it’s store at Unicity Mall in Nairobi, will take up to 50,000 square feet.
“I am convinced that if the contract is signed then a lot of traffic will be witnessed at the mall and more offices will be filled,” he said.
Addressing the press in Kisumu on Wednesday at the Mall situated along Kisumu Kakamega road, Ochiaga says the Mall owing to its strategic location has a huge potential for business.
He says currently, the mall, which is 360,000 square in feet is only at 47% occupancy.
The MD says the Authority has over the years welcomed government institutions into the Mall, thus rekindling its prospects.
The spaces have been taken by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), which relocated from its former offices in Swan Centre in 2019, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), Roads Board, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) amongst others, all occupying 100, 060 square feet.
The Mall boasts of an amphitheater, 350 car park yard, a modern food court, 4 escalators, a children’s playground and a recreational park amongst other amenities.
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