This archive report was first published on 29 June 2020.
Kenya's Mitumba Association has called on the Ministry of Trade, Industrialization and Enterprise Development to lift the ban on second-hand clothing imposed in early March by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs). The ban, which was introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has already led to the loss of nearly 350,000 jobs, according to the Association.
Speaking during a food and clothing donation exercise for traders affected by a recent fire at Gikomba Market, the Association's Chairperson, Ms. Teresia Wairimu, emphasized the need for the ban to be lifted. She noted that the Association had submitted guidelines for the continued importation and trading of second-hand clothing, which included enhanced health protocols and supervised re-fumigation upon arrival at the port.
Ms. Wairimu stated, 'We are confident that the Ministry has the power and intention of protecting over 2 million Kenyans and an additional 19 million who trade and purchase mitumba items respectively.' She added that the latest scientific advice indicates that the importation of second-hand garments and shoes into Kenya poses no credible public health risk.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has not recommended prohibiting the movement of goods or commodities as a measure to contain the spread of COVID-19, according to the Association. The guidelines developed by the Association aim to enhance health protocols, ensure additional health clearance certificates, and provide detailed workplace protocols for the over 2 million traders operating from open-air markets across the country.
Kenyan Business Feed is the top Kenyan Business Blog. We share news from Kenya and across the region. To contact us with any alert, please email us to [[email protected]](https://kenyanbusinessfeed.com/mailto: [email protected])
