Mitumba Consortium Association of KENYA
represents over two million traders in second-hand clothing. The Association was formed to protect the interests of its members, and to promote and develop the trade in second-hand clothing. Over 24 million regular consumers rely on the trade for access to affordable clothing. The Association has played a leading role in advocating legislation governing the trade in used clothes, and has worked with government agencies to ensure that regulations are enforced.
Evidence Research
MCAK advances evidence-based conversations on Kenya’s second-hand clothing sector by bringing together research, industry experience and the voices of people across the mitumba value chain.
Media
Discover the latest MCAK news, media coverage, events and stories from across Kenya’s mitumba industry.
Our Voice
Read MCAK’s perspectives on the issues shaping Kenya’s mitumba sector—from trade and livelihoods to circularity and policy—grounded in evidence and industry experience.
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In Kenya’s fashion story, mitumba and locally made EPZ clothes aren’t rivals they’re partners.
From Graduation to Gikomba How Njeri Turned Hustle into Hope
From Kibera to the Classroom
SHC industry creates jobs & supports Kenyan livelihoods
especially for
youth and women.
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Kenya’s second-hand clothing and footwear industry is a job creation engine, employingover 2 million people, which is 10% of the extended labour force of 20,641,175 people inKenya.
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The trade generates 7.58 jobs across the supply chain across East Africa for every ton ofSHCs imported.
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The SHC trade is particularly important for women and younger people, offering themjobs and opportunities to strengthen their household incomes.
SHC trade is a practice of circular economy
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SHC promots reuse and reducing environmental
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impacts from new clothing production.
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The trade generates 7.58 jobs across the supply chain across East Africa for every ton ofSHCs imported.
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The SHC trade is particularly important for women and younger people, offering themjobs and opportunities to strengthen their household incomes.
Due to Kenya's robust Quality Standards of SHC, data shows less than 2% waste percentage
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In Kenya, less than 2% of garments in a typical bale are non-wearable upon import. This low percentage is due to human error during sorting. Overall, approximately 98% or more of imported
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garments are reused.
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The market principles of supply, demand, and quality control with multi-stage sorting systems.
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Studies across Kenya , Ghana , Mozambique , Uganda and the Republic of Tanzania consistently show that only 1-5% of imported SHC is unsellable or waste.