East Africa wants to curb imports of used clothes. But it's not easy

BBC News · 🇬🇧 public United Kingdom · May 23, 2026 · 1568 words · By Wedaeli Chibelushi

International Trade Relations Environmental Sustainability Economic Development vs. Poverty Alleviation

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What to know about International Trade Relations

East Africa wants to curb imports of used clothes.

Claims checked 19

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center86%

Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

East Africa wants to curb imports of used clothes.

Why it matters

But it's not easy Not even heavy rain can keep shoppers away from Gikomba, a lively Kenyan market that stands as the largest open-air trading hub in East Africa.

Common ground

Sections of the site were waterlogged on the day the BBC visited, yet shoppers, some wearing rubber boots, still inched their way through the congested pathways, hunting for Gikomba's speciality - second-hand clothing.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this International Trade Relations story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that according to research commissioned by the Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya (MCAK), up to 4.9 million people across East Africa rely on the used clothing trade for work?
How does this story connect International Trade Relations with Environmental Sustainability over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2l2k5pxrgdo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 70% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 19 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 9

info Single Source 4

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified By Reference 2

check_circle Corroborated 1

cancel Disputed 1

help

Claim 1: “according to research commissioned by the Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya (MCAK), up to 4.9 million people across East Africa rely on the used clothing trade for work.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for the Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya (MCAK) research.

info

Claim 2: “The mitumba-loving nation received almost 180,000 tonnes of used clothing in 2022 - a 76% increase on the amount imported in 2013, UN trade data shows.”

SINGLE SOURCE

One source mentions Kenya imported 185,000 tonnes of second-hand clothing in 2019, but there is no evidence provided for the specific 2022 figure (180,000 tonnes) or the 76% increase from 2013.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Data from the Kenyan National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that in 2019, expenditure on clothing and footwear accounted for only 2.5% of total private consumption of Ksh 7.9 trillion, compared to…
https://kenyanwallstreet.com/kenya-imported-185t-second-hand…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kenya not only imports secondhand clothes for use but also exports the same to other neighboring countries. “The second-hand clothes industry contributes to government revenues. The existence of secon…
https://sokodirectory.com/2021/03/kenya-imported-185000-tonn…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In 2022, the import volume of maize in Kenya slightly increased to 793.8 thousand metric tons, up from 486.5 thousand metric tons in the previous year.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1170255/import-volume-of…

schedule

Claim 3: “Following the US ultimatum, all EAC members except Rwanda pulled their support for the ban.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 4: “prompting the US to place tariffs of 30% on imports Rwandan clothing, where there had previously been none.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 5: “In 2023, the non-profit Changing Markets Foundation estimated that this was true of more than one in three items of used clothing shipped to Kenya [ending up in landfill].”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 6: “in a report published in 2022, the country's [Rwanda] trade ministry said it was holding off on implementing a total ban on used garments because of 'current domestic gaps in the production of textiles and apparels'.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 7: “In neighbouring Uganda, second-hand clothes are the most sought-after garments, followed by imported new clothing and, lastly, locally manufactured clothing, the government-funded Economic Policy Research Centre found in 2024.”

CORROBORATED

Two separate web search results confirm that second-hand clothing (SHC) dominates the demand for garments in Uganda, followed by imported new garments and then locally manufactured ones.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 2 hours ago ... Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are major importers of used garments from the West and China.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2l2k5pxrgdo

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — women and girls. SHC dominate Uganda's demand for garments, followed by imported. new garments, and a minimal portion of locally manufactured. Aida K. Nattabi ...
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387844909_Phasing_O…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jul 17, 2025 ... Uganda imports 80,000 tonnes of used clothing each year to meet the demands for affordable clothing in the country. These goods are imported ...
https://smepprogramme.org/project/uganda-circular-textiles/

schedule

Claim 8: “In 2015, the then-six EAC members - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda - announced they would all place extremely high tariffs on - and eventually ban - the import of mitumba.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

cancel

Claim 9: “The new 30% environmental levy on used clothing comes on top of an existing 35% import duty and 18% VAT [in Uganda].”

DISPUTED

The claim states a 30% environmental levy, 35% import duty, and 18% VAT. However, provided evidence from the WTO and other tax reform documents mentions a 15% import duty for used clothing and an environmental levy specifically for motor vehicles, contradicting the specific figures in the claim.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Apr 21, 2024 ... * this "Declared Value" will be used to calculate import tax or VAT ... Clothing imports above R500 in South Africa are subject to a 45 ...
https://www.facebook.com/NamRA.org.na/posts/curious-about-ho…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — An environmental levy is imposed on imports of used motor vehicles. For used ... subject to the environmental levy at 15% of the c.i.f. value. 3.1.6 ...
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/s384-05_e.pdf

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jul 23, 2017 ... ... import duty, excise on imports, VAT on imports, withholding taxes on ... The importation of used clothing is subject to a 15% import duty ...
https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/80328/1/MPRA_paper_80328.pdf

info

Claim 10: “Gikomba, a lively Kenyan market that stands as the largest open-air trading hub in East Africa.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim is completely irrelevant, discussing hotels in Orlando, Florida, rather than Gikomba market in Kenya.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Sep 18, 2025 · Your guide, complete with information and photo tours, to the transportation options at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort.
https://orlandoinformer.com/universal/loews-portofino-bay-ho…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Portofino Bay transportation to the parks and CityWalk is easy. Enjoy this guide with tips on buses, walking paths, boats, and shuttles.
https://bepreparedvacations.com/portofino-bay-hotel-transpor…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jul 26, 2023 · Location: The resort is located close to the theme parks and Universal CityWalk. Guests can use the water taxi to get to the parks or a walking path. It takes approximately 15 minutes t…
https://www.keytotheworldtravel.com/loews-portofino-bay-hote…

schedule

Claim 11: “The trade ministry says that in the two years before the increase, used clothes made up 26% to 32% of garment and textile imports. In the following two years, this share dropped to between 2% and 7%”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 12: “Signatories of the Basel Convention, a global waste treaty, are currently deciding whether used garments... should also be classified as waste.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 13: “Kenya already applies a 30% customs duty to imports of used clothing”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided relates to moving services in Kenya and does not contain information regarding customs duties on used clothing.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Karibu - Welcome Worldwide Movers Kenya provide international relocations by sea and air, pet relocation, local moves, office moves and storage. We also provide an essential import and export service …
https://www.worldwidemoversafrica.com/kenya

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The protests continue in Kenya as police fire tear gas in both the capital Nairobi and the coastal city of Mombasa The protests currently taking place in Kenya mean that we have decided to close the o…
https://www.worldwidemoversafrica.com/news/protests-wwm-keny…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Welcome to the Worldwide Movers Africa group International moving services for embassies, diplomats, AID organisations, agents, NGO's, corporations, industry and private individuals.
https://www.worldwidemoversafrica.com/

schedule

Claim 14: “African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa)... allows several sub-Saharan African nations to export thousands of goods duty-free to the US.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 15: “Rwanda... hiking its second-hand clothing taxes from $0.20 (£0.15) to $2.50 (£1.90) per kg in 2016.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 16: “Uganda... has introduced an additional 30% tax on imports [of second-hand clothing]”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provided for this claim consists of general geographic and political information about Uganda and does not mention taxes on second-hand clothing.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Kampala (UK: , US: ) is the capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,797,722 (2024 census) and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central, Kawemp…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampala

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) was a political group formed by exiled Ugandans opposed to the rule of military dictator Idi Amin. The UNLF had an accompanying military wing, the Uganda Na…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda_National_Liberation_Fro…

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 17: “Tanzania levies a 35% import tax on used clothes”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for Tanzania's import tax on used clothes.

verified

Claim 18: “Kenya is a member [of the East African Community (EAC)]”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Multiple sources, including Wikipedia and official descriptions of the East African Community, explicitly confirm that Kenya is a member state.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The East African Community (EAC) is an intergovernmental organisation in East Africa. The EAC's membership consists of eight states: Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Federal Republic of Somalia, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_Community

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The East African Federation (Swahili: Shirikisho la Afrika Mashariki) is a proposed federal sovereign state consisting of the eight member states of the East African Community in the African Great Lak…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_African_Federation

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of Kenya's richest. It is based on an annual assessment of wealth and assets compiled and published by Forbes magazine. Kenya is the largest economy in the East African Communi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Kenyans_by_net_worth

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 19: “According to trade data platform the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), Kenya is currently Africa's leading importer of second-hand clothing”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence consists of website landing pages for a moving company and does not contain trade data from the OEC or information on clothing imports.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — I consent to Worldwide Movers Africa collecting this information. For further details please visit our privacy policy.
https://www.worldwidemoversafrica.com/contact-us

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.