Nairobi — The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has welcomed the passage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act by the U.S. Congress, which seeks to extend the trade programme for a further three years.
Under the bill, the deadline for duty-free access to the U.S. market would be moved to December 31, 2028, while the number of African countries eligible under the programme would increase from 21 to 24.
KEPSA said the move would provide continued market certainty for Kenyan exporters that rely on preferential access to the United States, particularly in the apparel, textile, agribusiness and manufacturing sectors.
The private sector body noted that the decision follows sustained advocacy efforts by the Kenyan government, the private sector and regional partners after AGOA expired on September 30, 2025.
According to KEPSA, the proposed extension -- subject to approval by the U.S. Senate and the President -- could safeguard more than 65,000 jobs in Kenya and help sustain investor confidence in export-oriented industries.
Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui said Kenya is also engaging the United States on a broader bilateral trade framework that would cover additional sectors beyond AGOA.
In 2024, Kenya exported about $470 million worth of apparel to the U.S., making the American market one of the country's most important export destinations under the AGOA framework.
