Ruto promises to ban imported shoes
2 min read
Ruto promises to ban imported shoes in the next two years in order to promote the local leather industry
Ruto promises to ban imported shoes in the next two years in order to promote the local leather industry.
President William Ruto will ban imported shoes in two years to support the local leather industry that has been facing cheap products from abroad.
Instead, the Head of State said that the country will use its own skins to make the products.
He said that the country’s leathers were being given to dogs while the country was buying alternatives from abroad at exorbitant prices between Sh20,000 and Sh40,000.
“Within the next two years, I will ban shoes imported from abroad. We will be making shoes with leather from our cows,” President Ruto said on Sunday during a Sunday service in Kajiado County.
To support the industry, the Government has allocated nearly Sh2 billion for the treatment of cowhide to improve the local supply chain.
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This, he said, will increase earnings for farmers who sell their hides at throw-away prices.
Local farmers have resorted to throwing goat and cow skins due to the cheap prices that they fetch at local tanneries, which has, in turn, impacted local shoe production.
President Ruto noted that he had allocated about Ksh.2 billion to bolster the leather value chain and ensure animal hides from livestock are resourcefully utilized.
The move, Ruto added, will also recalibrate the price of animal hides to a reasonable high and have farmers earn more income.
“I have allocated close to Ksh.2 billion for animal skin treatment and you will see it in the budget. I have put enough money in the leather value chain to ensure that our cows are used,” he said.
Ruto’s proposal was part of the avenues he intends to utilize to deal with the cost of living and the skyrocketing unemployment cases in the nation with the proposed budget for the Financial Year 2023/24.
Fierce competition from countries such as America, and China, among others, whose shoes are way cheaper has also made shows making business in Kenya not so lucrative.
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