Cargo awaits clearance at the port of Mombasa. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Small traders and importers in Nairobi have petitioned
Parliament to intervene and help save their businesses in the wake of an
influx of Chinese in the local retail scene, government harassment and
blanket destruction of goods at the port.
The Nairobi
Importers and Traders Association (Nita) told Senate they were been
unable to compete with the Chinese traders, including hawkers, due to
their ability to ship in cheap products that they use to undercut
rivals.
In the petition, the traders said they are
frequently subjected unnecessary inspections and raids by both county
and national government officers.
The said that arbitrary raid on imported goods at the ports of
entry has added to their pain with majority contemplating closing shop.
“We
have been promised dialogue and way forward but nothing has happened,”
Mr Ben Mutahi, the association chairman told the Senate Committee on
Tourism, Trade and Industrialisation.
The traders have
faulted the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA) decision to destroy all
goods in a container found with a few contraband items, arguing that
only the illicit goods should be seized and the rest spared.
This
is because a single container could carry goods for up to 10 different
traders, giving them little control over what sits in the container.
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