In a recent move, Kenya has reportedly shelved plans to impose a ban on second-hand clothes to let the market forces deal with the local textile dealers.
According to the Industrialization Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed, retaining the flow of these clothes, known as ‘mitumba’, into the country will allow both importers and local producers to remain in business. Explaining about the move, he shared, “Our policy is, of course, that it is our desire to develop and promote our textile industry in Kenya to create more jobs for people in our country.”
Also Read – Kenya offers incentives to textile companies
He further informed that through the transition of market forces, the country would like mitumba clothes to compete with clothes that are produced within East Africa and if those products are much more competitive and consumer-friendly, then of course the market will see reduced mitumba business in the country.
It’s worth mentioning here that this announcement has been made just as some US lobbyists are pushing for Kenya to be suspended from the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) group of countries for supposedly violating the principles of trade between the US and Kenya. The lobbyists argued that an imminent ban could mean Kenya was disobeying the very principles it has benefited from.
Clearing this conflict, Mohamed said, “Our position is very clear; we have continued to allow mitumba goods to come into our country. We have had no ban in place and that position is clear, adding, “We are engaging with US authorities in actually clarifying some of the issues they rose.”
