Raila Pledges to Ban Mitumba Clothes If Elected President

Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga has revealed plans to ban the importation of second-hand clothes, commonly known as mitumba, if he ascends to power this year.

Odinga, who is giving his fifth try at the presidency, says his administration will revive the country’s textile industries to enable traders of second-hand clothes to market locally manufactured products.

Speaking during the unveiling of his manifesto at Nyayo Stadium on Monday night, the ODM party leader pointed out that Kenya’s textile industry was killed through liberalization, which led to the importation of mitumba products.

“Our people are only wearing clothes coming from outside the country which have been worn by people who are dead. We are going to go to primary production so that our people who are importing mitumba can have good products to sell here,” Odinga stated.

He pledged to ensure that importers of used clothes get the first hand to market and sell locally manufactured products in the country.

“I’m saying that we are not moving anybody out of business. We will ensure that those who are importing mitumba get the firsthand to market goods that are going to be manufactured here in this country. We will get the cotton, jinn it here, spin it here and make finished products here,” he added.

Odinga, 77, noted that this will create millions of jobs for Kenyan farmers and the youths.