EDITORIAL: Ban importation of underwear, socks, ties, belts, old discarded cooking pans and knives

John Mbadi, the Treasury boss, in his new tax proposals for the 2026-27 budget, has suggested a five per cent tax for the importation of second-hand clothes.

Importers will have to make the payment to the Kenya Revenue Authority before the goods arrive in Kenya, with Treasury chiefs satisfied that the percentage will chip away at a small portion of the huge profits importers enjoy.

Kenya holds the unenviable label of the number one importer of second-hand clothes in Africa, with imports valued at a staggering Sh34 billion.

The enormous volumes of imports are a direct indictment of the grim state of our clothing industry, which struggles in the periphery, having surrendered to a slow and sure decline courtesy of spineless politicians only too willing to cower at the sight of the mitumba lobby.

If the market is not saturated with the dumping from Europe, we are swamped with cheap imports from China.

But in our view, Kenya Kwanza must make one major decision for the dignity of our people – the importation of underwear, socks, ties, belts and even old discarded cooking pans and knives must be banned.

These items form a set of disgraceful throwaways that fly in the face of Kenyan pride.

Quote of the day: “It’s no use to decide what’s going to happen unless you have the courage of your convictions. Many a brilliant idea has been lost because the man who dreamed it lacked the spunk of the spine to put it across.” —American banker, entrepreneur and founder of Bank of America Amadeo Giannini was born on May 6, 1870