Kenya Kwanza coalition turned up the heat following yesterday’s statement issued by presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, at Nyayo Stadium that all mitumba hawkers will be barred from selling their products to customers.
Raila however denied the Mitumba accusations and said he was misunderstood as his move would defend the traders, as opposed to killing the clothing industry many Kenyans rely on.
“Mitumba business is not a dead-end business. It’s actually creating employment for so many of our people. We don’t want to kill it. I’m the one who will be defending them so that the people who are trying to create propaganda, saying ‘ooh Raila said mitumba is going to be dead…’ No,” he said.
“We are not moving anybody out of business. We’ll ensure that those who are importing mitumba get first-hand market goods, which are going to be manufactured here in this country,” he said on Monday.
Meanwhile, The Hustler team referred to the Azimio coalition as people with no meaningful agendas to the common mwananchi in multiple rallies held at Murang’a, Bungoma, and Machakos County, following Raila’s initial Mitumba statement.
Left to Right: Kenya Kwanza Presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua and Kiharu Mp Ndindi Nyoro in a political rally at Kenol, Murang’a County on June 7, 2022.
In Kenol, Murang’a county, Kiharu member of Parliament, Ndindi Nyoro, hit back at Raila Odinga telling him that he is a soft man who doesn’t know what Kenyans undergo. He said Raila is a man who was born into a royal family and that he had experienced no difficulties.
Nyoro added there are Kenyans who depend on mitumba for daily survival and that banning the business will interfere with their lives. Nyoro said selling Mitumba is what made him who he is today.
Nyoro told the crowd how he toiled for many years as a mitumba hawker in order to pay his school fees while in high school.
“There are people full of comedy in this country and I want to speak to them while I am here at Kenol. Azimio should tell us about their take and if they decided to start a comedy program, let them initiate and stop deceiving Kenyans. Mr. “Tinga” you don’t know about the hustle Kenyans undergo due to the economic problem of the country.
“You don’t know about any problems Kenyans experience. People are wearing mitumba whether in schools or at work. Personally, I sold mitumba when I was looking for money to pay my high school fee. Stop insulting us Mr. Odinga,” Nyoro said.
Nyoro’s statement was backed by Tigania East Mp Josphat Gichunge Mwirabua alias Kabeabea. Kabebea denounced the agricultural agenda of the Azimio band that they plan to subsidize the fertilizer cost, from a range of KSh 6,000 — KSh 7,500 to an affordable price of not more than KSh 2000 per bag.
“I want to tell the cabinet secretary for Agriculture Peter Munya, that I am ashamed of you because you can’t convince Kenyans that your agenda of subsidizing the fertilizer cost from the current price to KSh 2,000 is doable. If you feel that this can work then start working on it now as the CS,” said Kabeabea.
The same Mitumba gospel was spread in Kipsigon, Bungoma County by the ANC Party leader Musalia Mudavadi and his fellow comrade Moses Wetangula, the Ford Kenya Party leader.
