The Mitumba business elicited heated debate in the country in recent months leading to public outbursts between Deputy president William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
During the unveiling of his manifesto on June 6, Raila ignited the debate but insinuating that second-hand clothes imported into the country were gotten from deceased persons abroad.
Raila said importation of mitumba had ‘killed’ Kenya's textile industry, something he said he would change if elected president.
His remarks sparked anger from stakeholders and traders in the mitumba sector who perceived his message to mean he would ban mitumba importation.
His main political nemesis DP Ruto turned rode on the debate and claimed that Raila had branded the mitumba industry an enterprise that deals in dead people's wares.
“Trickle down is dangerous. They branded business people's merchandise counterfeit and destroyed them. Now clothing enterprises are dealers in dead people's wares to be banned," he said
"Bottom-up, using TVET will assist these enterprises to grow from sewing, cottage to textile and leather industry," Ruto added
However, Raila assured traders in second-hand clothes that his government will not impose a ban on the used clothes should he win the August 9 elections.
He said his remarks were taken out of context.
Raila said he would rebuild the local textile industry and protect the traders by ensuring they get the first opportunity to market locally made clothes.
