Members of the National Assembly have urged the government to prioritise negotiations with the United States for the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)./
MPs warned that the looming expiry of the programme in September 2025 could trigger severe economic disruptions.
The call came through a Motion sponsored by Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri, which received overwhelming bipartisan support.
Kagiri underscored the importance of AGOA to Kenya’s economy, highlighting its direct benefits to women, who make up about 75 per cent of its beneficiaries.
“Women comprise approximately three-quarters of the direct beneficiaries of AGOA, and their incomes directly support education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation,” said Kagiri. “This House urges the Government of Kenya, in collaboration with the Government of the United States of America, to pursue an extension of AGOA for an additional 16 years.”
She added that, in the event of non-renewal, there should be a two-year transition period to enable the development of an alternative trade deal to safeguard businesses and jobs.
Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri/HANDOUTLawmakers further appealed to President William Ruto, who is currently in the U.S for the United Nations General Assembly meeting to push for a sideline meeting focused on the AGOA extension.
Tharaka MP and Chairperson of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, George Murugara, stressed the programme’s importance in fighting poverty and strengthening bilateral trade.
“The termination of AGOA not only affects Kenya but sub-Saharan Africa at large. We must have bilateral agreements to ensure continuity and to avoid a vacuum in trade and production,” he said.
Busia County Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo echoed the sentiments, noting: “We would like an extension of AGOA, without which most countries will suffer. We therefore plead with our country and the U.S.A. to continue being kind and consider an extension.”
Kilifi North MP Owen Baya praised AGOA as a progressive framework that has allowed Africa to grow its manufacturing base while targeting the U.S. market. “Kenya has tremendously benefited from AGOA. It has created job opportunities through the EPZ industries and other programmes,” Baya said.
Sirisia MP John Waluke added his voice to the appeal, urging U.S. President Donald Trump to grant the extension, stating: “We plead with the President of the United States to consider the extension so that Kenya does not suffer.”
The Motion argued that AGOA’s extension is a “win-win” for both Kenya and the U.S., as it not only promotes African trade and employment but also supports American supply chain diversification, strengthens bilateral ties, and enhances U.S. engagement with opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Enacted in 2000, AGOA grants duty-free access to the U.S. market for thousands of products from eligible Sub-Saharan African countries.
The programme, last extended in 2015, has been instrumental in expanding trade, attracting investment, and fostering economic growth and social stability across the region.
