Importation of ‘mitumba’ to resume under strict protocols
Barry Silah andLewis Njoka
Traders can now resume importation of used textiles and shoes, commonly known as Mitumba, but under stringent measures and protocols.
Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) in collaboration with Ministry of Trade has developed protocols that now require importers and dealers of used textiles to ensure their consignment is subjected to physical examination and certification to avoid the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).
Bernard Njiraini, Kebs Managing Director, said the guidelines provide a framework for enforcing additional safety measures such as cleaning and fumigation of used textiles and shoes at the country of origin before baling.
This will also happen at the wholesale or retail stores including surrounding areas every day at closure of business.
The new protocols also require, among other factors, all importers of used textiles and shoes to register with Kebs and identify the country of origin of the bales to enable their traceability.
In addition, clearance of used textiles and shoes shall only be undertaken through Kilindini Port and the Inland Container Depot Nairobi (ICDN).
“We urge importers, dealers and buyers of used textiles to adhere to the guidelines provided in the protocols,” he added in a notice.
Njiraini said the guidelines are a culmination of several weeks of research and consultations by Kebs with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Enterprise Development, and the Ministry of Health
Kebs suspended the importation of used garments and footwear early this year following the declaration of Covid-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
This precautionary measure was taken with the main objective of safeguarding handlers and users of used textiles and shoes from any risk of exposure to Coronavirus as the world grappled with the fast spreading pandemic.
Earlier in the month, traders had protested delays in publishing the protocols, saying they were costing the sector about 35,000 jobs a week as stocks were depleted amid increased demand for affordable clothes by consumers.
Clothes industry
At the time, Mitumba Association of Kenya Chairperson, Teresia Njenga, lamented that the delay was impacting negatively on the livelihood of Kenyans especially the approximately two million people who work in the second-hand clothes industry.
“When the President issued the directive during his 9th State address on Covid-19 pandemic on July 6, we extended our appreciation to the Head of State and hoped that the ministry would move expeditiously.
Weeks on, more traders have lost their livelihoods as others are faced with hard choices,” said Njenga.
The government then responded, saying it was in the process of reviewing input from the mitumba industry stakeholders for use in developing the protocols that would guide the resumption of second-hand clothes importation in the country.
According to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Kenya spent Sh17.8 billion in the first nine months of 2019 on mitumba with clothes accounting for Sh13.3 billion while shoes accounted for Sh4.5 billion.
It says the Mitumba sector employs 10 per cent of the countrys 20.6 million labour force.
