Kenya earned KSh 60.6 billion from apparel exports to the United States in 2024 under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), representing a 19.2% increase from KSh 50.8 billion recorded in 2023. This is according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey 2025.
The volume of apparel exported to the US also rose significantly, climbing from 97.3 million pieces in 2023 to 116.0 million pieces in 2024. AGOA, which was enacted by the US Congress in May 2000, offers duty-free access to the American market for more than 1,800 products from eligible sub-Saharan African countries. It was last renewed in 2015 and is currently set to expire in September 2025.
In 2024, the number of Kenyan enterprises participating in AGOA rose to 40, up from 39 the previous year. Direct employment under the program also increased by 15.2% to 66,800 people, while capital investment grew by 21.1% to reach KSh 38.3 billion, marking a consistent upward trend since 2020.
Despite these gains, AGOA’s future remains uncertain. The Trump administration’s trade policies, including a blanket 10% tariff on imports from Kenya and other nations, have raised concerns just months before the agreement’s scheduled expiry. The Trump-era focus on bilateral free trade deals instead of multilateral ones like AGOA could potentially shift the direction of Kenya-US trade relations.
Meanwhile, Export Processing Zones (EPZs) in Kenya also experienced growth in 2024. Total sales from EPZs rose by 21.7% to KSh 136.2 billion, driven largely by sustained demand in global markets. Domestic sales also went up by 6.2% to KSh 6.8 billion.
Employment within the EPZs expanded as well. Direct employment of locals surged by 18.9% to 89,900 people, largely propelled by the rise in the number of firms in apparel and agro-processing sectors. However, expatriate employment fell slightly by 3.6%, from 785 in 2023 to 757 in 2024.
As of December 2024, Kenya had 105 Export Processing Zones, with 3 new zones added during the year. Of these, 96 are privately owned while 9 are publicly owned. Mombasa County has the highest number of EPZs at 28, followed by Kilifi (17), Kwale (9), and Nairobi, Machakos, and Kiambu, each with 7 zones. Nakuru and Murang’a counties have 4 EPZs each.
