Friday 04th September, 2026 03:55 PM|
Kenya has welcomed the decision by United States President Donald Trump to sign into law a two-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), saying the move will provide greater certainty for exporters, manufacturers and investors.
The extension runs until December 31, 2028, giving Kenyan businesses continued preferential access to the US market.
Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui said the extension was particularly important for Kenya’s textile and apparel industry, which supports more than 66,000 direct jobs.
Certainty for exporters
In a statement issued on Friday, September 4, 2026, Kinyanjui said the extension would give businesses relying on preferential access to the US market more certainty as they plan investments and expand production.
AGOA, which was first enacted in 2000, provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with preferential access to the US market for thousands of products.
The programme had lapsed on September 30, 2025, before a short-term extension restored the benefits through the end of 2026.
The latest extension now provides access through December 2028, giving exporters more time to plan and expand their operations.
Kenya’s textile and apparel sector remains one of the biggest beneficiaries of the trade programme, with most of its exports to the US linked to the industry.
Focus shifts to more products
Kinyanjui said Kenya must use the additional period to broaden the range of goods it exports to the US instead of relying heavily on apparel.
“Beyond apparel, our focus must now be on using this extended window to expand Kenya’s export basket,” the statement noted.
The Cabinet Secretary identified value-added agricultural products, leather and leather products, pharmaceuticals and manufactured goods as areas with potential for increased exports.
The government said it would continue working with exporters and the private sector to increase AGOA utilisation and ensure more Kenyan enterprises and value chains benefit from access to the US market.
Jobs and investment
The extension is also expected to support Kenya’s industrialisation and investment efforts, particularly in sectors linked to manufacturing and export processing.
The textile and apparel industry supports more than 66,000 direct jobs, with a significant number of workers employed in Export Processing Zones.
Trade Principal Secretary Regina Ombam previously said the extension would also support agricultural exports, including cut flowers, tea, coffee, macadamia nuts and avocados, which will continue to benefit from preferential access.
She called for increased production, value addition and stronger value chains to maximise the opportunities available under the trade arrangement.
Kenya will also continue using regional trade frameworks, including the East African Community, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and African Continental Free Trade Area, alongside AGOA.
The government has urged exporters and manufacturers to use the extended period to increase production, diversify their products and strengthen their presence in the US market.
