NAIROBI — Kenya’s top business leaders have stepped up calls for Washington to renew a flagship U.S.–Africa trade deal, warning that thousands of jobs and investor confidence could be at stake if it lapses.
At a high-level investment forum in New York this week, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) urged the U.S. Congress to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for another 16 years. If that fails, they asked for at least a two-year transition period to give Kenya and Washington time to strike a bilateral trade pact.
“AGOA has been the single most effective U.S. policy tool in Africa over the last 25 years,” Carole Kariuki, KEPSA’s chief executive, told delegates. “It has supported industries, created jobs, and transformed lives.”
The scheme, first enacted in 2000, allows duty-free access for African exports into the United States. For Kenya, apparel has been the biggest beneficiary. In 2024, the country exported $470 million worth of clothing to the U.S., supporting nearly 67,000 direct jobs — three-quarters held by women. Officials say nearly 800,000 livelihoods depend on the deal.
For the U.S., Ms Kariuki argued, AGOA offers benefits too. It keeps clothing prices lower for consumers, supports supply chain diversification away from China, and strengthens stability in a region often under strain. She added that it also sustains American jobs in logistics and retail linked to African imports.
KEPSA’s delegation to New York included its chairperson Jas Bedi, Safaricom’s chief executive Peter Ndegwa, and KCB Bank’s group CEO Paul Russo. The forum was co-hosted with the Corporate Council on Africa, the Kenya Investment Authority, and the Kenyan government.
The push has backing from the highest levels of government. President William Ruto, who is in New York for the UN General Assembly, raised the issue with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. At the forum, he highlighted Kenya’s “solid fundamentals,” pointing to low inflation, stable exchange rates, clean energy, and a fast-growing digital economy. “Kenya is open and ready for business,” he said.
Kenya has long sought to position itself as a gateway to East and Central Africa. With a $3.5 trillion continental market under the African Continental Free Trade Area, and more than 150 American firms already operating locally, officials say the country is a natural hub for U.S. investment.
But the uncertainty over AGOA’s future looms large. The scheme is due to expire in 2025. KEPSA has already lobbied Kenya’s Parliament, which is debating a motion to call for the extension.
For many in Nairobi, the stakes are clear. Without AGOA, manufacturers fear cancelled orders, job losses, and a cooling of U.S. investor interest. “We must protect both Kenyan and American jobs,” Ms Kariuki said, “and ensure continuity in our trade partnership.”
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