The Rise of Mitumba: How Kenya Became Africa’s Largest Importer of Second-Hand Clothing
Author: Sanlian Life Weekly Published: September 23, 2023 · Estimated Reading Time: 14 Minutes According to global data analytics platform Statista , the global second-hand clothing market is projected to reach a value of $84 billion by 2030 . In present-day Kenya , the importation of used clothing from the Global North provides a livelihood for two million people and supports a vast industry that generates significant tax revenue. At the same time, the hundreds of millions of second-hand garments dumped into the country each year pose a severe environmental threat , highlighting Kenya’s precarious position within neoliberal globalization — caught between economic dependence and the environmental and developmental challenges facing the African continent . Written by: Aisha Edited by: Xu Jingjing Located southwest of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, Toi Market is one of the largest second-hand clothing retail m...