Kenya’s Textile Exports to AfCFTA Markets Double in 2023

Kenya’s textile and apparel exports to AfCFTA member states doubled to Ksh16 billion in 2023, led by school uniforms, workwear, and hospital linen. The Kenya Association of Manufacturers attributes growth to duty-free access, quality improvements, and branding under Made in Kenya. Rivatex Kenya in Eldoret supplies 12 countries, while new exporters in Nairobi target Rwanda and DRC. The ban on mitumba imports has freed local factories to scale. Challenges include logistics costs and competition from Asia. The government is negotiating mutual recognition of standards to ease market entry. With AfCFTA, Kenya aims for Ksh50 billion in textile exports by 2027.