The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) until 2028, providing crucial duty-free access for eligible African countries, including Kenya, to the U.S. market.

• The extension was approved by a vote of 340 to 54 and will now move to the U.S. Senate.
• President William Ruto had actively advocated for the extension, which safeguards an estimated 70,000 jobs in Kenya's Export Processing Zones (EPZs).
• Kenya is a top beneficiary, having exported approximately Ksh60.7 billion worth of apparel to the U.S. in 2024.
• The extension protects Kenyan exporters from potential tariffs of up to 42 percent.