Raila Backs Up Early Statement on Mitumba Says Mitumba is Here to Stay
Azimio One Kenya Alliance Party presidential aspirant Raila Odinga on Friday 24th backed up his earlier statement on prohibiting the importation of second-hand clothes popularly known as Mitumba into the country.
Christine Juma 
"Msiwe na hali ya wasi wasi yoyote kwamba mitumba itapigwa marufuku…hapana, haitapigwa marufuku, tutasaidiana pamoja.”
Speaking on Friday after he met representatives from Kenya's popular open-air market Gikomba, Odinga stated that his government will work hand-in-hand with traders to ensure the cartels that thrive in the market through the back door are dealt with by his administration.
The traders told Odinga that they rely on mitumba for their livelihood and that of their families, therefore they are concerned about what will happen if it is prohibited.
“Sisi hatuwezi tukataka hizo statements ziendelee, hiyo politics ya mitumba iendelee…mitumba is food for us, tukinyang’anywa mitumba tumenyang’anywa chakula. Mitumba ikitumiwa kisiasa ni sisi tunaharibiwa biashara yetu,” one of the traders said.
The Azimio party head told the businessmen that his government would work with them to improve their market and establish up local enterprises for clothing production.
He went on to say that his government would revoke any title papers to Gikomba land held by private individuals, restoring the market's splendor to the traders.
"Wale wanyakuzi ambao wako na title ambazo wamepewa hapa na pale, zote tutacancel ili nyinyi mweze kufanya biashara yenu hapo sawa sawa". He noted.
Today we met with the national representatives of the Mitumba Association of Kenya drawn from ten Counties incl Importers, distributors, and wholesalers.
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) June 24, 2022
Second-hand trade has uplifted so many people in Kenya, my government will not BAN mitumba but strengthen it. #Inawezekana pic.twitter.com/NBCxvWedxC
