Investments, Trade, and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has said that the government will from next year ban the importation of shoes.
Speaking on Monday in Laikipia, Kuria said that the move will help promote the local shoe industry in Laikipia.
Kuria said Kenyans should ready themselves to put on locally manufactured shoes or walk barefoot.
"Rais amekubali na ametangaza, mwaka ujao tunapiga marufuku kuleta viatu kutoka nje ndio nyinyi watu wa Laikipia mkuwe mko mbele. Yule mtu amabaye hataki kuvaa viatu ya Laikipia si atembee miguu mitupu, ama naman gani?" He said.
(The President has agreed and announced that in the coming year, we will ban the importation of shoes so that Laikipia residents can be promoted. Those who do not wish to put on Laikipia shoes should walk barefoot).
He said shoes which are being imported should have a 50 per cent levy to help residents of Laikipia.
This is not the first time the talk has been brought forth to Kenyans as the President on June 25, 2023, said he will ban the importation of leather products.
He said that it was time Kenya supported local production of the raw material available.
"Miaka mbili ijayo, nitapiga marufuku mambo ya kuleta viatu na mambo mengine ya leather kutoka nje," Ruto said then.
(In the coming two years, I will ban the importation of shoes and other leather products).
The President explained that Kenyans chose to feed leather from livestock to dogs instead of manufacturing products.
"Our leather we give dogs to feed but we choose to import leather from outside which is costly. This is not right. There is no miracle in the imported leather. It is from the same cows," he added.
He said Kenya’s leather industry is operating well below its potential despite having the third-largest livestock population in Africa.