ODM leader and Azimio la Umoja-OKA flag bearer Raila Odinga has caused a stir on social media over his remarks on mitumba.
During the launch of Azimio-OKA manifesto on Monday evening, Raila outlined his plan that will boost production of clothes locally hence there will be no need of importing mitumba, which he said are clothes of the dead people.
Raila however clarified that the plan was not meant to kick anyone out of business but to ensure that traders sell quality clothes.
“Mitumba killed all our sectoral industry. Our people are only wearing clothes coming from outside the country which have been worn by people who are dead. We are going to primary production so that our people who are importing mitumba can have good products to sell here.
“I am saying we are not moving anybody out of business, we will ensure that those who are importing mitumba get the first hand to market goods which are going to be manufactured here in this country. We will gin the cotton here and we will make the finished product here and this will create again a very big source of employment for our youths in the country,” Raila said.
His statement received a backlash, especially from Kenyans who are not his supporters and those from Kenya Kwanza political affiliation.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa asked Kenyans to forgive Raila over his comments because he was born when his father was already in government.
“Those bashing @RailaOdingfor his comments on Mitumba clothes should forgive him. This is a man who was born when his father was Vice President and in his tender age, attempted to overthrow a legally elected Government,” Barasa said.
Former LSK president Nelson Havi on the other hand said that he puts on Mitumba items and he is not ashamed of it.
“Every Hustle Matters: I buy and wear Mitumba shoes without shame or apologies.60% of Kenyans wear Mitumba clothes from Gikomba Market. ” Nelson Havi said.
The hustler nation spokesperson Dennis Itumbi on his side highlighted the benefits of the mitumba business in the country.
“The Mtumba Industry in a simple Graphics QUICK MITUMBA NUMBERS:- 1. Mitumba employs 2M Kenyans. 2. Mitumba pays Sh. 18 Billion in taxes. 3. 91.5% of Kenyan Households buy Second Hand Clothes. Proudly lying on my bedsheets which are part of the #MyDeadPeopleClothingChallenge” Itumbi said adding that DP William Ruto also puts on the second hand clothes.
Others suggested that Raila’s remarks answered the question why Gikomba market has been experiencing fire outbreaks every now and then.
On the hand, Raila’s supporters defended him saying that he meant well for Kenyans.
“Most of them don’t know this. Kisumu had KICOMI. Eldoret had RIVATEX. Very vibrant industries, not forgetting the ginneries and the entire cotton farmers. AGOA killed our textile industries so that they can sell us mitumba. Mitumba benefits America more than Afrikans,” a netizen said.
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