Kenya’s Fashion and Textile Sector Creates 250,000 Jobs Under Cotton Revival Plan

Kenya’s revived cotton-to-garment value chain now supports 250,000 direct jobs—from farming to ginneries, spinning, and garment making—up from 50,000 in 2021. The Ministry of Industrialization credits the Cotton Revival Plan, mitumba import ban, and Rivatex Kenya’s expansion in Eldoret. Over 200 schools and 50 hospitals now use locally made uniforms and linen. New investments include a Ksh5 billion textile city in Webuye. With AfCFTA, Kenya targets $1 billion in textile exports by 2030, competing with Bangladesh and Vietnam. The sector is a flagship of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, empowering women and youth in rural areas.