The Kenya Bureau of Standards has banned the importation of second-hand clothes and shoes until further notice.
In a notice sent to the public and importers, Kebs said the move was a precautionary measure aimed at protecting Kenyans from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Importation of used garments and footwear is hereby prohibited with immediate effect,” the notice reads.
On Monday, Kenya recorded eight new coronavirus cases bringing the number to 50.
Kebs has also directed that no consignment of used garments and footwear will be accepted from a country grappling with the pandemic.
Kenya's used clothing imports come mainly from the US, the UK and China.
Those from the UK average about $42 million (Sh4.4 billion) annually. It is the world’s second-largest exporter of used garments after the US.
The virus has infected more than 787,000 people and killed over 37,000 across the world.
The US has the most confirmed cases globally at over 160,700 while China has a tally of over 81,000 cases.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statics, Kenyans spent Sh11.96 billion on imported second-hand clothes and footwear in the first six months of 2019.
The government has been keen to revive the local textile industry including dormant textile mills in a Sh1 billion plan targeted to generate over 7,000 direct jobs.
Edited by R.Wamochie
