‘No Leather Imports After 3 Years,’ President Ruto Threatens To Increase Tax On Imported Shoes To Promote Local Manufacturing
The government is set to put up a leather manufacturing company in Naivasha in a bid to promote local livestock farming and ensure value addition for their animal products.
President William Ruto announced on Thursday during a goat auction event at Kimalel in Baringo County where he said that the country would ban leather imports in the next three years to solely depend on the local skin manufacturing industry.
He said the move would benefit local farmers, adding that 5,000 acres of land had already been identified and set aside in Naivasha.
The president therefore implored all Kenyans to adopt the made-in-Kenya products, further hinting that his administration may be forced to increase taxes on imports to compel citizens to purchase local items.
“We are going to promote our own manufactured products. So far, we have finished negotiations to set aside 5,000 acres where we are going to put up large leather industries,” he said.
“After three years, we will not import any shoes from other countries. If somebody cannot buy a shoe made with the skin of a Kenyan cow, they can walk barefoot…no problem. Or we can increase tax so that we collect more revenues.”
According to the head of state, animal skin that is used in leather manufacturing is the same but the Kenyan market price of animal skin has depreciated due to increased imports and a lack of tannery industries.
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“We have to start using our goats to manufacture leather products. We are still importing over 10 million pairs of shoes yearly while our livestock skins continue to lose value…huku ata haina bei,” Ruto stated.
“How can the same skin that is used to manufacture shoes that we buy from Ksh.5,000, Ksh.10,000, and Ksh.20,000 fail to have any monetary value? Does it mean our leather cannot make shoes, handbags, or even belts?”
The president at the same time reassured Baringo residents that his administration was working to increase the value of their animals and products through artificial insemination and the meat industries.
“I have spoken with the Prime Minister of India and have agreed to work together to promote livestock farming. Our PS is in India to discuss how we are going to get better breeds for our cattle,” he said.
“We don’t want you to sell your cattle like this, we want value addition for your animals so that after slaughtering, we sell the meat separately, bones and skins separately.”
‘No Leather Imports After 3 Years,’ President Ruto Threatens To Increase Tax On Imported Shoes To Promote Local Manufacturing
