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Scrap Metal dealers hold demonstration in Nairobi over ban

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 12 – The Kenya Iron and Scrap Metal Association (KIMSA) on Tuesday held demonstrations in Nairobi to protest the ban imposed on the industry. 

Led by the association’s Secretary-General Irshadali Sumra, the protesters delivered a petition to the office of the Ministry of Interior and Internal Coordination demanding that the ban imposed on the industry be lifted.  

“We are asking the President to give us 60 days as a grace period to complete registration. But even as that process goes on, we ask that the ban be lifted,” he stated.

“It’s been three months and we have had no source of income. We are willing to comply with regulations, but we need our source of income back,” lamented the former Embakasi South MP.  

The protestors also wanted the Values Added Tax (VAT) which they described as too high to be reduced. 

The government last month announced that all scrap metal dealers will have to seek fresh licensing, as part of measures aimed at curbing runaway vandalism associated with the sector. 

The fresh licensing directive is among new regulations that have been proposed to control the sector, before the lifting of a ban on the trade of scrap metal ordered by President Uhuru Kenyatta on January 20, 2022. 

The SG also stated that members of KIMSA are not the thieves that these regulations were created to deter.  

“Members of my association are not thieves. We have agreed with the government that KIMSA will help catch the thieves. It is now up to the President,” 

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