By Suleiman Mbatiah
The United States has extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by three years, giving Kenya fresh momentum to expand its exports beyond textiles and apparel.
The extension follows the passage of a Bill by the US House of Representatives, easing uncertainty that had weighed heavily on Kenya’s export sector after AGOA lapsed last year.
Kenya has benefited from AGOA since 2000, using the duty-free access to grow exports to the US, particularly in textiles and apparel produced in Export Processing Zones. The arrangement expired in 2025, triggering concern among investors and workers over the future of the industry.
The textile and apparel sector employs more than 80,000 people directly and supports an estimated 250,000 others indirectly, according to the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry.
Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said the extension restores confidence and opens the door for diversification.
“The extension gives Kenya the space to protect jobs while deliberately expanding into new export areas beyond textiles,” CS Kinyanjui said.
He said the government is now targeting additional products under the AGOA framework as part of efforts to grow exports and create more jobs.
The extension follows sustained engagement by Kenya’s leadership with US officials. In November 2025, President William Ruto chaired a consultative meeting on AGOA renewal, bringing together industry players, including the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance.
During the meeting, President Ruto briefed stakeholders on his discussions in Washington with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which covered both the extension of AGOA and plans for a longer-term trade framework to guarantee predictable market access for Kenyan products.
The CS has also led engagements with US investors, including at the American Chamber of Commerce State of Trade in Kenya Forum, where he assured them of Kenya’s commitment to stable and mutually beneficial trade ties.
In 2024, US exports to Kenya were valued at about Sh119.5 billion, while Kenyan exports to the US stood at roughly Sh114.2 billion. Apparel accounted for about Sh72.9 billion of Kenya’s exports to the American market.
The CS said the government is strengthening value chains in textiles and agriculture, investing in energy reliability and positioning Kenya as a strategic hub for US businesses seeking long-term trade partnerships in Africa.