This archive report was first published on 5 July 2020.
Kenya has ruled out lifting its ban on second-hand clothes imports, also known as Mitumba, in the near future.
The ban, which has been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic began, restricts imports from countries with high infection rates, including the US and China, which are traditional sources of second-hand clothes for Kenya.
Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Trade and Enterprise Development, Betty Maina, explained that the restrictions are necessary to comply with pandemic protocols.
Ms Maina met with the Mitumba Association of Kenya on June 22 to discuss the issue and advised the traders to develop protocols for dealing with used clothes in the context of the pandemic.
The association is optimistic that they will meet the requirements of the protocols soon and resume importation of second-hand clothes in the country.
According to the Trade CS, there are currently no Mitumba imports coming into the country by sea or air.
Kenya imports second-hand clothes from various countries, including China, the US, and Europe, but the imports are restricted due to the ongoing pandemic.
