Kenya Wins as AGOA Renewal Protects Thousands of Jobs and Trade

Kenya’s Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has applauded President Donald Trump’s formal signing of new legislation reauthorizing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The signing provides much-needed reassurance to exporters and employees within the Kenyan economy after an extended period of uncertainty.

The new AGOA law formally extends AGOA until December 31, 2026, and has a retroactive effective date of September 30, 2025; thus, exports from Kenya can expect to be able to reach U.S. markets without interruption until the end of 2026.

This U.S. presidential approval comes on the heels of language approval by both chambers of Congress and will continue to allow for preferential access for Kenyan-made products (such as those produced within the textile, apparel, and agribusiness industries) into the United States.

KEPSA said the move delivers much-needed certainty to investors and exporters who had been bracing for disruptions following the lapse of the previous AGOA timeline.

More than 66,000 Kenyan workers are expected to directly benefit from the extension, with thousands more livelihoods sustained indirectly through supply chains linked to export manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture.

KEPSA described the development as a validation of sustained private sector advocacy and high-level diplomatic engagement between Nairobi and Washington.

“The signing of this act provides the immediate certainty required to maintain investor confidence and protect existing jobs,” said KEPSA Chief Executive Officer Carole Kariuki.

Certainty for exporters and workers

Kariuki noted that while Congress had initially passed a longer extension, the administration opted for a shorter timeline, signalling a shift in approach.

“While the current extension is shorter than the three years initially passed by Congress, we take note of the U.S. administration’s intent to modernise the program,” she said.

She added that KEPSA would move quickly to leverage the extension into deeper bilateral engagement.

“KEPSA will embark immediately on the Kenya USA trade deal negotiations in collaboration with the government, ensuring mutual economic transformation, aligning with both Kenya and U.S. trade policies,” Kariuki said.

KEPSA said the extension reinforces Kenya’s position as a strategic trade partner and preserves competitiveness for exporters who rely on duty-free access to the U.S. market, particularly under the country’s export processing zones.

Also Read: Kenya Responds After Trump Extends AGOA Trade Benefits

UNGA diplomacy and coordinated advocacy

The renewal follows coordinated advocacy efforts between the private sector, led by KEPSA, and the Kenyan government under President William Ruto, alongside regional partners.

There have been many attempts at building relationships between the United States and Kenya in light of the impending expiration of AGOA on September 30, 2025.

There were multiple occasions to engage with potential investors from both countries, as well as representatives from the Kenyan and U.S. governments, during the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings in New York City in 2025 (high-level meetings and investor roundtables).

Another example is that of the Kenya-U.S. Investment Forum, which took place on September 22, 2025, where stakeholders were able to discuss trade, investment, and economic development initiatives.

KEPSA has informed us that, following the completion of the UN meetings, ongoing discussions and diplomatic activities continued through the signing of the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).

Throughout this process, KEPSA has had the active assistance and support of the Office of the President of Kenya and several of the Ministries involved in international trade or investment.

Also Read: EXPLAINER: How AGOA Benefits Kenya and Other African Countries

Stakeholders acknowledged

The alliance recognised the role played by its leadership and members in the advocacy push.

It cited KEPSA Chair Jas Bedi, Vice Chair Brenda Mbathi, executives from Safaricom and KCB Bank, and representatives of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers who participated in negotiations in New York.

KEPSA highlights that domestic advocacy was also a strong force for assembly, with their engagement both within Parliament and with the Honorable Jane Kagiri.

Kagiri introduced a Motion to increase Calls for AGOA Renewal through Parliaments, alongside a Media Campaign that promoted the effects of AGOA on jobs as well as Industry and Households.

KEPSA has consistently described AGOA as “the single most effective U.S. policy tool in Africa over the last 25 years.”

In 2024 alone, Kenya exported apparel worth $470 million(approximately Ksh 61 billion), to the U.S., supporting nearly 800,000 livelihoods linked directly or indirectly to the framework.

For the United States, KEPSA said AGOA reduces consumer costs by an estimated $200–250 million(approximately Ksh 33 billion), annually on products such as jeans and uniforms, while supporting jobs across logistics, retail, and distribution, and contributing to stability in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates