Trade and Investments Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria has announced that Kenya will ban the importation of shoes in 2024 and set up a shoe production industry.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony of an industrial park in Rumuruti in Laikipia County, Kuria said the country will be self-sufficient to meet the local demand for shoes.

“Kuanzia mwaka ujao hakuna kuimport tena viatu kutoka nje… viatu itakuwa inatoka hapa Laikipia na yule hataki kuvaa kiatu ya Laikipia sii atembee bila viatu basi...,” said Kuria.

Further, he tols Laikipia residents that their livestock alone are capable of producing enough shoes for export.

“Mnyama mmoja kiatu 20, 60k animals will give us 1.2million pairs of shoes every month...,” he said.

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Kuria went further and told MPs present that his office would push for an imposition of a 50% tax on all imported shoes to promote local production.

On his part, Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu said the county will complement the leather factory programme by ensuring all livestock bought in Laikipia are first slaughtered and only carcasses are allowed to cross the county border.

“Sisi tutahakikisha kuwa kama unatoka Nairobi na unanunua ngombe ama unatoka Athi River...huyo ngombe lazima kwanza achinjiwe hapa Laikipia utuachie ngozi yetu vijana wetu wapate kazi kwa leather firms...,” he said.