Hundreds of Nakuru mitumba clothes and shoes traders will be forced to close their business if a policy on industrialisation is adopted by the East Africa Community.
In an article carried online by the Nation media, states that importation of used clothes and shoes will be outlawed in East Africa once the region’s heads of State adopt the Industrialisation Policy that will also restrict importation of used motor vehicles.
The policy that seeks to transform the manufacturing sector will be placed on the table to be adopted during the Heads of State Summit in Arusha, Tanzania, on Wednesday, individual countries are expected to domesticate it before it takes effect.
According to the article, banning of used clothes and shoes will place the region like other developed countries and ready to transition itself into an industrial block through higher level of production quality and manufacturing practices.
Though the proposed policy is not welcome here at home, especially Nakuru where the mitumba business has thrived providing means of income for hundreds, it is seen as a blow to hard working citizens and small scale traders.
‘’It’s a draconian law and should not be adopted, Kenya is still a developing country where thousands can’t afford three meals a day leave alone clothing, " says Mungia Kibicho a resident of Nakuru.