Tanners Association of Kenya urges State to clear imposed 10 per cent levy

Chairman of Tanners Association of Kenya Robert Njoka has urged the Government to remove the 10 percent export levy imposed on tanned and crust hides and skins.

The chairman said that the leather industry is facing many challenges of which if the export levy is reduced, it will help get market for local traders.

While speaking to the press in Nairobi, Njoka said he does not want leather business to go down since it is one the President Uhuru’s Big Four agenda.

“The Government should adjust the duty. What we produce locally should be duty free so that the market can be good for all traders,” Njoka said.

He added, the Kenya Leather Development Council should advice the government on the hides and skins policies to create a conducive environment for traders to do business.

“If few amendments are done and policies implemented, the challenges will be few, but the government should also control the smuggling out of hides to Nigeria,” he said.

He also challenged people who were complaining that they are lacking local market for their raw skins that they should follow correct measures that way they will find a solution.

“Some complains from traders that their skins are rotting and they don’t have a local market are not true. One of the challenges we have is that we are operating under the law. Some of the materials they have are of low quality,” Njoka said.

He said the leather industry market has gone down and the economy gone up.

Njoka also urged the ministry to get officers who can manage the skins like before to make sure that traders produce quality material.

Douglas Mokua, a board member also said urged traders to produce quality hides and skins saying that Rwanda produces good quality of material.

“70 to 90 percent of our products go to china and India market where they are consumed,” Mokua said.

He added, those who had complains should visit their chairman and if there is a complain, the chairman will address the authority.