Three weeks from today, over 66,000 Kenyans employed in the apparel industry alone would not be assured of their jobs if a last-minute decision is not made to extend Agoa, which expires on September 30.
With Agoa also nearing its end, Kenya’s industrialisation dream is headed to a dark moment with massive layoffs expected, mainly in Export Processing Zones.
Kenya had 105 gazetted EPZs in 2024, with 180 operating enterprises within them.
These zones, mostly private and a bunch of public ones, are distributed across the counties of Mombasa, Kilifi, Nairobi, Kwale, Machakos, Kiambu, Nakuru, Bomet, Embu, Nandi, Meru, Murang’a, Kajiado, Kirinyaga, Taita Taveta and Naivasha.
Others are in Elgeyo-Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Laikipia, Narok, Kitui, Kisumu and Homa Bay.
Investment Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan said SEZs and EPZs have created 30,000 direct jobs through 90 operational businesses in the last two-and-half years.
