Staff in Deputy President William Ruto's office on Tuesday, June 7, went on a mitumba shopping spree a day after Azimio candidate Raila Odinga sensationally made controversial remarks about the trade of second-hand clothes on the local textile industries.
In photos seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Ruto's Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi, the spokesperson in the Office of the DP Emmanuel Talam were seen buying mitumba socks from a vendor in Dagoretti, Nairobi.
Itumbi and Talam were accompanied by UDA's Director of Communications Wanjohi Githae and former Presidential Strategic Communications Unit director, Eric Ngeno who selected pairs of colourful socks from loosely tied bunch.
"Buying a few items somewhere in Dagoretti," Itumbi captioned the images he shared on his social media accounts.
In addition, UDA candidate for the Westlands parliamentary seat Nelson Havi also shared images of him buying shoes from a stall. Havi revealed that he was a regular buyer of the goods.
"Every Hustle Matters: I buy and wear Mitumba shoes without shame or apologies," the former Law Society of Kenya boss stated.
The sudden love for the second-hand clothes depicted in photos shared by Ruto's allies was used as ammunition in attacking the former Prime Minister, who promised to promote local textile businesses when he assumes office.
Ruto criticized Raila, terming the former Prime Minister's proposal as dangerous and meant to undermine local businesses.
He accused Odinga of alleging that the products were counterfeit - a comment that Odinga responded to promptly.
"Trickle-down is dangerous. They branded business people's merchandise counterfeit and destroyed them. Now clothing enterprises are dealers in dead people's wares to be banned. Bottom-up, using TVET will assist these enterprises to grow from sewing, cottage to textile and leather industry," Ruto wrote.
"Tell the guys on the other end that the internet never forgets," Odinga responded, sharing a video of Ruto declaring that he would stop the importation of clothes and furniture to Kenya.
Speaking during the official launch of his manifesto on Monday, June 6, Raila blamed the mitumba industry for the collapse of the local textile industry. However, his allegations that the clothes were worn by dead people sparked outrage.
"When they brought mitumba, it killed all our textile industries. Our people are only wearing clothes from outside the country that have been worn by people who are dead," he remarked.
Members of the public, including politicians from the DP's camp, hit out at the Azimio candidate, accusing him of looking down upon youth-owned enterprises. Through the hashtag #mydeadpeopleclothingchallenge, Kenyans expressed their support for the enterprise.
However, the ODM leader noted that he was grossly misinterpreted as the trending video was edited to include the part where he stated that he would establish a system to have the traders sell locally manufactures clothes. On June 7, Raila clarified his remarks which he claimed were put out of context.
"Mitumba is not a dead-end business and it has created employment for so many of our people. I am defending them and there are people who are bringing propaganda to say that Raila is going to kill the sector. No, that is not the case," he clarified.
