Why mitumba still dominates Kenya's clothing market

Teresia Wairimu Njenga chairman of the Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya with Kwame Owino CEO Institute Of Economic Affairs during the launch of a report on the future look at the apparel and footwear industry in Kenya 2022 - 2037. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

Kenya has emerged as a big importer of second-hand clothes, indicating a growing dependence on used, even as the local textile industry grapples with survival.

Data from the Economic Survey 2025 shows that Kenyan textile imports for 2024 were Sh60 billion compared to Mitumba's Sh28 billion, providing affordable wear for a broad section of the population.