Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui has welcomed the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), saying the move will restore confidence in Kenya’s export sector and protect thousands of jobs linked to trade with the United States.
In a press statement dated January 14, 2026, Kinyanjui said the United States House of Representatives had passed a Bill extending AGOA by a further three years, describing it as a critical milestone in U.S.-Africa trade relations.
He noted that the extension is particularly important for Kenya’s textile and apparel industry, which operates largely within Export Processing Zones.
“In Kenya, the textile and apparel industries operating within the EPZs employ over 80,000 people directly and an additional 250,000 indirectly. The uncertainty that had previously engulfed the sector will now give way to renewed confidence and expansion,” Kinyanjui said.
AGOA, which was first enacted in 2000, allows eligible sub-Saharan African countries to export thousands of products to the U.S. market duty-free.
The programme had expired at the end of September 2025, raising concerns among exporters and investors before the House moved to approve a three-year extension earlier this month. The Bill now awaits consideration by the U.S. Senate.
Kinyanjui said the government intends to use the renewed AGOA window to diversify Kenya’s exports beyond textiles and apparel.
“As a Ministry, we aim to grow exports of additional products under the AGOA framework beyond textiles, ensuring that Kenya fully leverages this opportunity to create jobs and generate wealth,” he said.
Kenya’s major exports to the United States currently include textiles and apparel, coffee, tea, horticultural products and tourism services. Expanding the export basket remains a key priority and aligns with the country’s broader economic strategy.
The Cabinet Secretary also revealed that Kenya is engaged in discussions with the United States on a bilateral trade agreement that would cover additional sectors and further strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
He said the issue of enhanced market access featured during President William Ruto’s recent visit to Washington, D.C., where Kenya made its case for deeper trade cooperation with the U.S. government.
If approved by the Senate, the AGOA extension will run for three years, offering Kenyan exporters greater certainty as the country seeks to create jobs, attract investment and grow its trade with the United States.
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