Ms Mwangi, programme officer at the Aga Khan University’s East Africa Institute, writes that the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics "2010 Kenya National Manpower Survey" shows the mitumba industry (importation of second-hand clothes and footwear) employs 10% of the labour force and three in every five urban street traders are women. These traders contribute significantly to the economy but are among the most marginalised and vulnerable workers. With most of them dependent on their daily hawking of wares, the disruption of business has had a significant negative impact on their livelihoods.