President William Ruto on Thursday evening convened a consultative meeting with representatives of Kenya’s apparel industry at State House, Nairobi, following growing fears of massive job losses after the expiry of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
AGOA, a trade pact between the United States and Sub-Saharan African nations, had for 25 years provided duty-free access to the US market for over 1,800 products. For Kenya, the deal has been a lifeline, generating over 50,000 jobs and boosting foreign exchange earnings through textile exports.
However, the pact expired on September 30, after the Donald Trump administration failed to renew it, sparking uncertainty in the local apparel sector.
During the State House meeting, Ruto briefed stakeholders on his recent talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, D.C., where discussions focused on both the extension of AGOA and the establishment of a long-term trade framework.
“This will go a long way in strengthening our apparel industry, which remains vital to our economy and the livelihoods of thousands of families,” Ruto affirmed.
The president assured stakeholders that operations would continue without disruption as negotiations with the US proceed with urgency.
The concerns are real. On Wednesday, October 1, a senior manager at one of Kenya’s top apparel firms revealed that the company was already considering scaling down operations and seeking alternative markets, citing uncertainty after the lapse of the agreement.
Meanwhile, Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui expressed optimism that the deal would be renewed. Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, the CS said Kenya is actively engaging Washington to ensure the continuation of AGOA or a similar trade framework.
