Kenya has welcomed the passage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act by the United States House of Representatives, describing the move as a significant step toward securing continued preferential access to the U.S. market.
In a statement, the government said the decision paves the way for a possible three-year extension of AGOA, which is set to expire in September 2025, and expressed optimism that the legislation will be approved by the U.S. Senate to allow for its final enactment.
“AGOA has been a key pillar of Kenya’s trade relations with the United States, supporting exports—particularly in textiles and apparel—while contributing to job creation and industrial growth. The proposed extension would provide much-needed certainty for exporters and investors at a time of global economic uncertainty,” said Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi
The announcement followed a meeting between Kenyan officials and Susan Burns, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, during which Kenya reiterated its appreciation for Washington’s continued support and commitment to the bilateral relationship.
During the talks, the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen the Kenya–U.S. Strategic Partnership through expanded and more ambitious engagement across several priority areas. These include economic prosperity, trade and investment, peace and security cooperation, democracy and governance, as well as collaboration on multilateral, regional and global issues.
Health cooperation also featured prominently in the discussions, reflecting long-standing U.S. support for Kenya’s health sector, including in the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and other public health challenges.
Kenya said it remains firmly committed to deepening ties with the United States and advancing shared priorities, noting that an extension of AGOA would reinforce economic cooperation and provide a platform for broader bilateral engagement in the coming years.
The U.S. Senate is expected to take up the AGOA Extension Act in the coming months, with stakeholders across Africa closely watching the process due to the trade programme’s importance to export-driven economies.