Good news to mitumba traders as the president okays the deal that allows them to resume the import business which had been closed due to covid-19 restrictions.
Speaking today at state house when met representatives of Mitumba Association of Kenya led by their Chairperson Ms Teresia Njenga, he said the traders must abide by the measures agreed upon with the Ministry of trade and industrialization.
While acknowledging the challenges the traders have been experiencing as a result of the country’s Covid-19 containment protocols, he urged them to register with Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
Other measures agreed upon at state house include the requirement to submit to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and KEBS, a register of their first tier customers to enable the government carry out contact tracing and tax compliance.
The Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development and KEBS have also increased weight of the packed bales to 50kg.
“Mitumba importers will be required to obtain pre-shipment fumigation certificates in addition to complying with health protocols as directed by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development and KEBS. Importers will ensure that fumigation is undertaken before baling in compliance with the established standards” read the statement by state house spokesperson Kanze Dena.
Present at the meeting were Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiangi (Interior), Betty Maina (Trade), and Mutahi Kagwe (Health).
Also present were Attorney General Paul Kihara Kariuki, PS for Trade and Enterprise Development Ambassador Johnson Weru, KRA Commissioner General James Githii Mburu and KEBS MD Col (Rtd) Benard Njiraini and Kenya Railways MD Eng. Philip Mainga among others.
