Moses Kuria caught in a storm over planned ban of mitumba
Trade, Investment and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria was captured on video in a heated argument with a stakeholder over the ban of mitumba (second hand imported clothes) in Kenya. The argument took place during a meeting between the CS’s office and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers earlier in the week at a city hotel.
The viral video captured Mr Kuria being confronted by a stakeholder over his intention to ban the importation and sale of mitumba after developing and empowering those who locally produce fabric and clothes.
The CS had been addressing the gathering when the woman began shouting at him. The woman said mitumba business allows millions of people to be self employed and its eventual ban is ill-advised.
“These people are working every day and night to make sure that they make ends meet. Do not demoralise them. We love what we do, and we want to do more. Ban it, and you see citizens lose jobs,” she said.
Also read: Wavinya Ndeti, Moses Kuria tussle over Machakos land
Principal Secretary Kirimi Kaberia attempted to pacify the woman, telling her to follow protocol when addressing the CS. However, Mr Kuria interjected by saying he is capable of handling the situation.
The CS explained that an eventual ban would result in the increase of jobs by one million because he intends to find traders something better to do. He also warned the complainant and those who took her stance that if they continued pushing back at him, they wouldn’t be friends.
At one point, the said woman could be heard telling the CS to go ahead and ban mitumba.
“Textile and apparel sector is a strategic sector and key pillar in the manufacturing industry and in our country’s economy at large. The sector is among the key priority of our bottom-up economic transformation agenda 2022-2027 (The Plan) and has been mainstreamed into the Medium-Term Plan (III) with the Kenya Economic Development Blueprint, Vision 2030,” Mr Kuria later said in a statement.
Also read: Alfred Mutua ‘shares phone number’ with sassy journalist, Kenyans react
Earlier this month, Mr Kuria backtracked after he said he intended to ban mitumba, claiming that he had been misquoted. He clarified that he plans to increase the consumption of locally made clothes and even export them when the capacity is reached.
His stance came months after he and his Kenya Kwanza allies scoffed at ODM party leader Raila Odinga who said he would ban mitumba buisness in the country if elected president. Later on, during the campaign period, Mr Odinga clarified that he would protect the traders by ensuring that they get the first opportunity to market locally made clothes.
Mr Kuria was among the first rival politicians who rushed to the Gikomba open air market where mitumba is popularly sourced, bought some of the clothes as he criticized Mr Odinga for targeting hustlers.
But once hw was appointed, Mr Kuria acted right out of Mr Odinga’s play book by announcing plans to ban mitumba, backtracking and clarifying his sentiments and then saying he intended to find something better for the mitumba sellers to do.
Also read: Governor Wavinya Ndeti apologizes for ‘dressing poorly’