Ruto Welcomes AGOA One-Year Extension to Protect Kenyan Jobs

By Brian Kiprono - Reporter

5 December 2025 - President William Ruto has welcomed a United States proposal to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for another year, stressing that continuity is critical to protecting thousands of Kenyan jobs and preserving hard-won export gains.

Speaking after bilateral talks with U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, Ruto described the one-year extension as vital breathing space while the two nations negotiate a more robust and modern trade framework.

Kenya remains one of AGOA’s largest African beneficiaries, with billions of shillings in annual exports – particularly textiles, apparel, agricultural goods, leather, footwear, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and digital services – relying on duty-free access to the American market.

“Any disruption would create unnecessary uncertainty for Kenyan workers and businesses,” President Ruto said.

“This extension ensures stability while we work towards a forward-looking agreement that reflects today’s economic realities.”

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He emphasised Kenya’s desire to deepen value addition in key sectors and eventually transition towards a bilateral trade deal that offers greater predictability for investors on both sides.

As the U.S. Congress weighs the proposed extension, Ruto expressed optimism that maintaining AGOA in the interim remains the surest way to safeguard two decades of progress and lay the groundwork for an ambitious next chapter in Kenya–U.S. economic relations.