This archive report was first published on 5 August 2020.
As Kenya continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is being urged to reconsider its ban on second-hand clothes and shoes imports, known as mitumba.
Trade Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina gave the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) the green light to explore lifting the ban in July, just over a month ago.
The ban was initially imposed in March to prevent the importation of the coronavirus, as Kebs inspectors abroad struggled to verify conformity with sanitary and phytosanitary measures due to travel restrictions.
At the time, Kenya was just beginning to confirm COVID-19 cases, but the country has since eased movement restrictions and allowed unrestricted access of foreigners, even from countries hardest hit by the virus.
Despite the ban, the mitumba sector remains a vital source of livelihood for thousands of traders and casual workers, as well as a source of relatively cheap clothes and shoes for millions of Kenyans.
Traders have expressed concerns that their stock has depleted, and they fear closure of their enterprises if the ban is not lifted.
Kebs has since developed guidelines to ensure the safety of all products in the market, and it is now time to ease restrictions for the importation of mitumba.
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
