Kenyan manufacturers have welcomed the United States House of Representatives’ decision to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), voicing strong support as the Bill moves to the US Senate and Presidential stages for final consideration.


The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) on Thursday described the House vote as a “critical milestone” in securing continued preferential market access for Kenyan goods.


The association noted that it has been at the forefront of sustained advocacy for AGOA’s extension, working closely with the Government of Kenya and partners in the United States. Manufacturers expressed optimism that the Bill will receive favourable consideration in the next stages.


AGOA, KAM underscored, is vital in strengthening trade ties between Africa and the US by offering duty-free access for more than 6,000 product tariff lines.


“AGOA has significantly expanded Kenya’s market in the USA, which now accounts for about seven per cent of our external market,” the association said.


In 2024, Kenya exported goods worth Sh60.6 billion to the US, making it Africa’s largest clothing exporter to the American market. Apparel alone accounted for about 72 per cent of Kenya’s exports to the US under the programme.


KAM added that the programme has delivered wide-ranging socio-economic benefits, supporting approximately 68,000 jobs and nearly 700,000 dependents, while generating around $730 million (Sh94.2 billion) annually in export earnings for Kenya and contributing to a favourable trade balance between the US and Africa.


The association further noted that extending AGOA would attract new investments, create jobs, and reinforce Kenya’s position as a competitive investment destination, while sustaining mutual trade gains amid global economic uncertainty.


AGOA, enacted in 2000, provides duty-free access to the US market for eligible sub-Saharan African countries. The programme officially expired on September 30, 2025, after 25 years. The US House of Representatives voted late Monday to extend it for an additional three years.