It’s time for a revival of Kenya’s textile industry
By George Olaka NOV 19 - Kenya’s textile industry has long stood as a symbol of both promise and neglect. Once employing nearly 30% of the manufacturing Kenya breaking news | Kenya news today |..
✨ Key Highlights
Kenya's textile industry is poised for a significant revival after decades of decline, with a new policy aiming to re-establish it as a major economic pillar. Once a robust sector, it suffered from underinvestment and uncontrolled imports, but now presents a massive opportunity for import substitution and export growth.
- The new Kenya Cotton, Textile, and Apparel (CTA) Policy 2024 sets a roadmap for revitalization, targeting USD 2 billion in exports by 2030, up from USD 628 million in 2024.
- The initiative aims to create 22,000 new jobs, generate USD 514 million in annual output, and attract USD 470 million in investment.
- Currently, Kenya imports approximately USD 2.2 billion worth of textiles annually, with local mills meeting less than 45% of domestic fabric demand, indicating a substantial opportunity for local production.
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President Ruto Announces Infrastructure Fund and New Economic Policies - November 2025
President William Ruto announced the establishment of a new National Infrastructure Fund, designed to finance Kenya’s development projects without reliance on heavy borrowing and increased taxes. This announcement comes as President Ruto is scheduled to address Parliament on Thursday regarding the State of the Nation, where he will face pressure over the country's economic performance and his bottom-up transformation agenda. Separately, the Kenyan government is aiming to revive its textile industry, which has declined over decades, with a new policy to re-establish it as a major economic pillar for import substitution and export growth.
