Gikomba Traders Struggle To Stay floating as Bale Prices increase

By Esther Murigi,

At Gikomba Market, where traders mix with the murmur of handcarts and matatus, small-scale business owners are struggling to survive as the cost of second-hand clothing bales continues to rise sharply.

For years, Gikomba has been the center of Kenya’s mitumba trade, a multibillion-shilling sector that supports thousands of livelihoods across the city.

Every morning, more than 3,000 traders crowd into the narrow lanes to buy and sell used clothes imported from the United Kingdom, Canada, and China. But in 2025, many say the business has become tougher than ever.

Grace Mumi, who has sold clothes in Gikomba for eight years, said a bale of ladies’ tops that cost KSh 12,000 last year now goes for KSh 19,500. She added that if she raises her prices, customers complain, and if she do not there is no profit.

Mumi operates a stall near the Muthurwa side of the market, where she sells women’s wear to customers from as far as Ruiru and Kayole. She said the biggest challenge has been the weakening shilling and increased import duties.

She said the dollar exchange rate was KSh 135 early last year, and now it’s over KSh 160, and everything has gone up from shipping to clearance fees.

According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Kenya imported more than 177,000 tonnes of second-hand clothes in 2024, valued at KSh 23.1 billion, a 14 percent increase from the previous year.

However, traders say the cost of importing has grown even faster, with average bale prices rising between 40 and 60 percent since 2023.

A bale of men’s trousers that sold for KSh 16,000 two years ago now costs about KSh 25,000, while a bale of children’s clothes that once sold for KSh 10,000 has risen to around KSh 17,000. To cope, many small traders are now sharing bales or buying half-bales to reduce their expenses.

Moses Otieno, a trader dealing in denim, said profits have dropped sharply. Before he could buy one full bale and make around KSh 7,000, now he is lucky to make KSh 2,000 after paying for rent, transport, and county fees.

Traders in Gikomba pay between KSh 200 and 300 per day in county charges, in addition to stall rent ranging between KSh 6,000 and 10,000 per month, depending on location. To raise capital, many have joined small savings groups, or chamas, which help them pool resources and restock.

Otieno said joining a chama has helped him stay in business. “When prices go up suddenly, they combine their savings to buy one big bale and share it.

The market, which supports an estimated 50,000 people directly and indirectly, has also been hit by frequent fires. In February 2025, a blaze at Section 8 destroyed more than 80 stalls, causing losses of about KSh 20 million.

Importers are also struggling to manage higher freight and port costs. Samuel Maina, who imports bales from Dubai, said shipping expenses have almost doubled. 40-foot containers used to cost around KSh 400,000 to ship but now it’s nearly KSh 700,000, and they have no choice but to raise prices for traders.

Gikomba remains one of the busiest markets in East Africa, moving an estimated KSh 100 million worth of goods daily. But with the cost of living rising and the shilling still weak, traders fear their profits will continue to shrink.

As the sun sets over the market, traders pack their remaining clothes into sacks and head home through the narrow paths. For many, it remains hopeful till the next day.

Read Also: Fire Razes Down A Section Of Gikomba Market

The Author is Esther Murigi certified Broadcast Journalist