Trade Cabinet Secretary, Moses Kuria's, meeting with manufacturers was briefly interrupted after a businesswoman confronted the former legislator.
While delivering a speech with the manufacturers on November 7, Kuria explained why he advocated banning the import of second-hand clothes.
However, the unidentified businesswoman interjected and called out the CS in what she argued was an ill-advised proposal.
She explained that the mitumba business had employed many Kenyans, and a ban would result in a loss of jobs.
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"These people are working every day and night to make sure that they make ends meet. Do not demoralise them.
"We love what we do, and we want to do more. Ban it, and you see citizens lose jobs," she lamented.
Immediately after, Industrialisation PS Kirimi Kaberia interjected and asked the businesswoman to follow protocol by airing her grievances through the right channels.
However, seemingly irked, she continued to express her dissatisfaction noting that she was raising an important issue.
Kuria acknowledged the gravity of her grievances but argued that more jobs would be created through the ban.
"I will get them something better to do. Push, push and I will push back. We cannot be friends on the wrong premises," he stated.
The incident came days after the CS came under fire for planning to ban the importation of second hands clothes.
Nonetheless, in a rejoinder, the CS maintained that he was misquoted, underlining that he wanted Kenyans to access decent clothes.
"Nobody wears mitumba out of their will, they wear it because they don't have enough disposable income, because they don’t have alternatives and because they don’t have jobs.
"I want to see a Kenya whereby every Kenyan can afford decent new clothes," he clarified then.
