Raila says Azimio gov’t will not ban mitumba trade

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party presidential candidate Raila Odinga has set the record straight saying he will not ban the importation of second-hand clothes, popularly known as mitumba, if elected on August 9.

Raila, who met the representatives from Gikomba market on Friday, said the Azimio government will work hand-in-hand with traders to ensure the cartels that thrive in the market through the back door are dealt with by his administration.

The traders told Odinga that they depend on mitumba for their livelihood and those of their families, hence fearing what would happen if it were banned.

“Sisi hatuwezi tukataka hizo statements ziendelee, hiyo politics ya mitumba iendelee…mitumba is food for us, tukinyang’anywa mitumba tumenyang’anywa chakula. Mitumba ikitumiwa kisiasa ni sisi tunaharibiwa biashara yetu,” one of the traders said.

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan, who was also present, said: “As a community we believe that this trade should be supported, Gikomba market should be looked into as a national market, it’s the biggest market in East and Central Africa.”

The Azimio party chief reassured the traders that his government would collaborate with them in improving their market, as well as setting up local industries for production of the clothes.

He further said that his government would cancel all titles deeds of the Gikomba land being held by private individuals and restore the market’s glory back to the traders.

Odinga, on his part, assured them: “Wale wanyakuzi ambao wako na title ambazo wamepewa hapa na pale, zote tutacancel ili nyinyi mweze kufanya biashara yenu hapo sawa sawa. Msiwe na hali ya wasi wasi yoyote kwamba mitumba itapigwa marufuku…hapana, haitapigwa marufuku, tutasaidiana pamoja.”