"Ambieni wale majamaa, internet never forgets" - Raila tells off Ruto over Mitumba debate

Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate William Ruto and his Azimio La Umoja One Kenya counterpart Raila Odinga on Tuesday, June 7 engaged in a heated online war on the ongoing Mitumba debate.

The two took to their Twitter accounts criticizing each other over their mitumba remarks made in the recent weeks.

While launching his manifesto on Monday, June 6, Raila made remarks that a section of Kenyans interpreted that he meant his government will ban the mitumba business.

But what was conveniently left out was Raila's preceding statement in which he had said his government will revive the local textile industries to enable second hand clothes traders sell locally manufactured products.

"Our people are only wearing clothes coming from outside the country which have been worn by people who are dead. We are going to primary manufacturing so that our people who are importing mitumba can have good products to sell here," Raila said.

DP Ruto joined his allies and supporters in criticizing Raila for "plotting" to destroy the business of many poor Kenyans.

Raila immediately fired back at Ruto, chiding Ruto with a video clip in which he was proposing the same thing during a rally in Kamukunji, Nairobi in June 4, 2022, but using different words.

Mitumba traders want to meet Raila, Ruto

Mitumba traders are now seeking audience with Raila and Ruto, who are believed to be the leading presidential candidates, to iron out what they say are anomalies in the duo's manifestos.

Through the Mitumba Consortium Association, the traders say that Raila and Ruto might have been misadvised on the Mtumba business.

"To kill the mitumba trade and promote textile is to give with one hand and take away with the other. We regret that the former PM and the Deputy President have relied on false information about second hand clothes," says the union's chairperson Teresia Wairimu.

"We therefore seek audience with the two main presidential candidates to fashion them with correct information," she added.