President Uhuru Kenyatta on 6 July afternoon announce the
lapse of cessation of movement into the counties if Nairobi, Mombasa and
Mandera, a move that has received mixed reactions with business persons in
Trans county delighted.
The cessation movement in and out of the counties was
directed by president Uhuru Kenyatta in Monday 6th April.
“The president’s speech Monday was good. Opening up of
the borders was what many business persons across the country were yearning
for. We can now access the products that we couldn’t and also sale ours in far
reached counties passing through the previously locked counties,” said Mr.
Allan Kidula a business man in Kitale.
Movement of goods and person in the counties of Mombasa,
Nairobi and Mandera were placed after they became hot spots of the novel virus
to avoid further spread of the virus in other counties. Business persons
obtains goods from the counties are happy on the open with the mitumba clothes
sellers hoping that the process ordered by the president tales course
immediately.
President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered that protocols guiding
importation and trade in the second-hand clothes be established.
Speaking during his state of the nation address where he
announced a phased re-opening of the economy, Uhuru called for protocols that would
lead to the resumption of the business.
“The Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the Ministry of
Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development shall establish protocols
for the resumption of the importation and sale of imported second-hand clothes,”
he said.
The ban was imposed by Kenya Bureau of Standards in March as
part of efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, a contentious matter
that experts dispelled, saying shipments are cleaned and fumigated at source
with a health certificate issued before exported.
“Selling of Mitumba has formed an employment platform
for many youths both directly and indirectly. I have been able to sustain
myself through this business for a couple of years. Nairobi is open but I have
nothing to order the ban on second hand clothes still in force. I hope with the
president’s remarks yesterday something will be done and get back to business
as he said,” said Enock Ndiema a Mitumba youth seller at Chanukah market
in Kitale.
Kenya had ruled out lifting of a ban on the importation of
second-hand clothes and shoes anytime soon.
Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Trade and Enterprise
Development, Betty Maina, said; “Currently, Mitumba imports from countries that
are facing the Covid-19 pandemic are restricted. The protocols in place
restrict importation of second-hand clothes from virus prone countries. We are
only trying to comply with that protocol.’
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