The Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya (MCAK) led by its chairperson Teresia Njenga has moved to stop the implementation of a proposal by the three Europen countries to halt the exportation of Mitumba clothes to Kenya.
Njenga who strongly opposed the move, stated that the importation of used clothes supported livelihoods and generated tax revenues for the country.
According to Njenga, the decision to halt mitumba exportation could render about two million Kenyans whose life depends on the sale of mitumba clothes jobless.
The MCAK chairperson also dismissed claims by some European countries that mitumba clothes polluted the environment in most African states.
Njenga expressed her disapproval of the new motion during a meeting with officials from Lithuania, Finland, and Sweden.
She also plans to meet officials from the European Commission's Directorate-General for Trade and the Directorate-General for the Environment to argue her case.
"Nobody is giving us trash by force. What we are buying is good quality clothes, and if a supplier wants to sell us trash, we would be happy to refuse their consignment," Njenga clarified.
MCAK’s reaction comes days after France, Denmark and Sweden proposed the restriction of importing used clothes from the European Union member countries.
The three countries proposed that the EU apply the Basel Convention to used clothes, banning exports of hazardous textile waste.
According to the proposed law, the countries or individuals seeking to import used textiles from any European nation must first obtain informed consent before permission is granted for exportation.
The French environment ministry stated that discussion on whether to impose the ban will be deliberated at a meeting of EU environment ministers on March 25, 2024.
"Africa must no longer be the dustbin of fast fashion," the French Ministry of Environment stated.