Ban on mitumba will be progressive, says EALA

Members of the East African Legislative Assembly have supported the proposed ban on second hand clothes popular as mitumba.

This they say will help revive the textile industry in the East African region that is today facing stiff competition from the sale of the second hand clothes.

The members who were speaking at Mount Kenya University during a forum to educate students on issues that bind the East African Community said the ban was crucial in lifting the fortunes of textile industry players.

Kenyan members’ chairperson, Nancy Abisai, said the community has over 172 million people who provide a ready market for entrepreneurs.

They however assured traders that the ban on importation of second-hand clothes will be spread over 10 years to allow the cotton and textile industry enough time to recover to the 1980s levels and hopefully absorb traders affected by the ban.

This year heads of state of the East African Community resolved to ban importation of second-hand clothing, which have been blamed for the collapse of the textile industry in East Africa.

The ban is expected to take effect in 2018.

The forum attended by over 3,000 students and staff also asked the regional MPs to look into making cross border movements conducive for university graduates to get jobs across East Africa.