Relief as mitumba traders, State agree on import rules
The government and mitumba traders have agreed on the protocols for the resumption of importation and sale of imported or second-hand clothes
Following the agreement reached during a meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mitumba Association of Kenya at State House, Nairobi, yesterday, all mitumba (used clothing and shoes) importers will now be required to register with Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs).
The traders will also be required to pack their merchandise in bales that do not exceed 50 kg and obtain pre-shipment fumigation certificates in addition to complying with health protocols as directed by the Ministry of Health.
They will also adhere to the Kebs standards and ensure that prohibited items are not imported into the country by instituting necessary sorting and categorisation mechanisms before baling.
First-tier customers
For ease of contact tracing and tax compliance, it was also agreed during the meeting attended by a team led by the association’s chairperson Teresia Njenga, that the importers and wholesalers shall submit to Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kebs, a register of their first-tier customers.
In addition, the importers will ensure that they obtain certificates of conformity from Kebs contracted agents in the country of origin before importation.
A dispatch from the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU), the importers will ensure that fumigation is undertaken before baling in compliance with the established standards.
This would be in addition to obtaining pre-shipment fumigation certificates that comply with health protocols as directed by the Ministry of Health and that of Industrialisation, Trade and Enterprise Development and Kebs.
Kebs and KRA shall also undertake necessary random inspections to ensure compliance with relevant laws and will take action against offenders in accordance with the law.
President Kenyatta, reiterated the government’s commitment to continue creating an enabling the business environment for enterprises to thrive by eliminating trade barriers.
During the meeting, the Head of State receved a petition from the association highlighting the challenges traders of used clothing and shoes (mitumba) traders inn the country are experiencing as a result of the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) containment protocols.
The government halted the imports four months ago as a measure of stemming the spread of Covid-19.
The Mitumba Association of Kenya had eralier this month called on Trade Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina to lift the ban, saying that its members are ready to observe all Covid-19 health protocols to ensure all products in the market are safe.
Covid-19 pandemic,
“Every week of delay means approximately 35,000 traders are seeing their stocks get depleted.
This is despite the fact that the World Health Organisation has not prohibited the movement of goods or commodities as a measure to contain the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Njenga then.
International flights to and from Kenya resumed from August 1, giving hope to the traders.
