NAIROBI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The demand for Chinese cuisine is on the rise among Kenyans, the hospitality industry lobby said on Friday.

Mike Macharia, CEO Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) told Xinhua in Nairobi that the restaurant sector has traditionally been very cosmopolitan given the proliferation of Ethiopia, Somali, American, Italian, Japanese and Indian food establishments in the major urban centers.

"The Chinese have brought a different element of the Asian food culture that we have traditionally been used to and Kenyans are developing a taste for it," Macharia said.

"If you go to a typical Chinese joint on Sunday afternoon you will be lucky to get a seat," he added.

The east African nation has traditionally had a couple of Chinese restaurants operating in the key towns since the country attained independence in 1963, but there has been an explosion of restaurant offering Chinese food since the early 2000s.

Macharia noted that rising incomes especially from the expanding middle class has spurred Kenyans to seek for alternative foods. "Kenyans are now beginning to appreciate Chinese food," he revealed.

Macharia said that Chinese food is likely to gain traction in Kenya especially because some of their meals consists of chicken, beef and eggs which are popular in Kenya but have a different twist in the preparation of the foods.

According to KAHC, the growth of the Chinese food industry will help to attract more Chinese tourists into the country as the Asian visitors will find food that they are familiar with.