Canon Middle East, a marketer of printers, cartridges and toners, has established a subsidiary in Kenya, joining a raft of multinationals setting up regional bases in Nairobi.

The regional arm of Japanese firm Canon Inc that is banking on new office to oversee seven African countries will strengthen its position across the rapidly growing markets of eastern Africa.

Its entry is expected to test the dominance of HP especially in the Kenyan market.

Canon Kenya will provide marketing and channel development services in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Eritrea, Rwanda and Burundi, according to Mr Anurag Agrawal, the managing director of Canon Middle East.