Kenya to ban importation of shoes from next year - Moses Kuria

Kuria who was presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony of an industrial park in Rumuruti, said the government will set up a leather factory in Laikipia County. 

CS Kuria announced that President Ruto’s administration will ban the importation of shoes and instead build a shoe production industry in the country.

“Kuanzia mwaka ujao hakuna kuimport tena viatu kutoka nje… viatu itakuwa inatoka hapa Laikipia na yule hataki kuvaa kiatu ya Laikipia sii atembee bila viatu basi...,” said Kuria.

The man at the helm of the Trade docket told Laikipia residents that their livestock alone are capable of producing enough shoes for export.

“Mnyama mmoja kiatu 20, 60k animals will give us 1.2million pairs of shoes every month...,” he said.

Kuria went further and told MPs present that his office would push for an imposition of a 50% tax on all imported shoes to promote local production.

Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu on his part said the county will complement the leather factory programme by ensuring all livestock bought in Laikipia are first slaughtered and only carcasses are allowed to cross the county border.

“Sisi tutahakikisha kuwa kama unatoka Nairobi na unanunua ngombe ama unatoka Athi River...huyo ngombe lazima kwanza achinjiwe hapa Laikipia utuachie ngozi yetu vijana wetu wapate kazi kwa leather firms...,” he said.

Meanwhile, CS Kuria who has in recent days triggered a sharp criticism over his remarks on fuel prices, maintained that the fuel crisis is far from over.