Tejal Dodhia: Reducing production costs, interest rates key to driving Kenya’s textile industry

KENYA’S textile industry has struggled to pick up since a collapse in the 1980s and 1990s. The collapse was primarily caused by economic liberalisation policies that led to high production costs, competition from second-hand clothing imports (mitumba) and a decline in cotton production, which pushed many companies out of business.

One company has however stood the test of time. Thika Cloth Mills was established in 1958. To date, the 67-year-old company, which is a leader in textile manufacturing dealing in blended polyester viscose suitings, cotton suitings, fibre dyed polyester viscose, cotton drill, yarn dyed checks, cotton twill, bed sheeting fabric, khanga, curtains, kitenge and kiko continues to serve the Kenyan market with quality products.