Nairobi — As Kenya's second-hand clothing (mitumba) trade booms, public health experts are warning that without rigorous inspection, imported used garments may carry disease-causing microorganisms such as E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, threatening consumer health. The concerns have prompted calls to strengthen quarantine and controls before goods reach the market.

According to a recent letter published in the journal Science, more than 4.5 billion used garments are shipped to Africa each year, with large quantities ultimately ending up in landfills or being burned due to insufficient local waste-processing capacity, creating environmental pressure. Research also finds that waste textiles may carry pathogenic microorganisms and antibiotic-resistance genes, and release microplastics as synthetic fibers age, posing multiple health risks.

In Kenya, East Africa's largest economy, the problem is especially acute. A 2023 report estimated that Nairobi's largest dumpsite receives about 86 tonnes of textile waste daily, and the decomposition of clothing may pollute the environment. At the same time, the trade's economic importance cannot be ignored: in the first quarter of 2025 alone, Kenya imported more than 53,000 tonnes of second-hand clothing worth 6.5 billion Kenyan shillings. President William Ruto made clear in January this year that he would not ban used-clothing imports, stressing that millions of people depend on the industry for affordable clothing and livelihoods.

Ebenezer Amadi, a senior project manager at the environmental organization Bopinc, noted: "Potential risks such as bacterial contamination must be considered." He argued that inspections and appropriate controls at points of entry could prevent contaminated clothing from entering local markets, rather than imposing a blanket ban.

Industry observers say Kenya's predicament highlights the challenge of balancing health, environmental and waste-management concerns in the fast-growing second-hand clothing trade, and that stronger inspection and downstream processing mechanisms may be the sustainable path.

Source: Experts Raise Concerns on Diseases Spreading from Mitumba Clothes · Originally published 2026-08-27