Parliament Pushes for Urgent Extension of AGOA to Protect Jobs and Trade Gains
The appeal was made through a Motion tabled by Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri, which was supported with bipartisan numbers
Parliamentarians also urged President William Ruto, who is on an official tour of the United States, to place AGOA renewal high on his agenda in his high-level exchanges. Photo/ Courtesy
By Juliet Jerotich
The National Assembly urged action to secure the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), noting its importance to the livelihoods and economy of Kenya.
The appeal was made through a Motion tabled by Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri, which was supported with bipartisan numbers in their overwhelming majority. Legislators noted AGOA has been pivotal in growing Kenya’s exports to the U.S., generating thousands of jobs, and fostering social development over the last two decades.
Kagiri warned that the ongoing AGOA extension, which was extended in 2015, will be over in September 2025, and this can result in deep shocks to Kenya’s economy unless a substitute trade agreement is established. She added that women make up nearly 75 percent of the direct beneficiaries, whose earnings are crucial to significant areas like education, health, and poverty reduction.
She urged the Government of Kenya, with Washington’s close cooperation, to negotiate a 16-year extension agreement for the trade program. She averred that this would secure livelihoods, cement economic gains, and set the stage for enduring prosperity. Kagiri also suggested coming up with a two-year transition plan in the event that the U.S. does not renew AGOA, so that businesses and jobs in both countries are protected during the transition phase.
Parliamentarians also urged President William Ruto, who is on an official tour of the United States, to place AGOA renewal high on his agenda in his high-level exchanges.
Justice and Legal Affairs Committee Chairman George Murugara added that AGOA has been a vital component not just to Kenya, but to the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa. “If AGOA is withdrawn suddenly, its domino effects will inflict damage to millions of individuals on the continent of Africa. The bilateral trade structures must be made stronger to allow continuity and reduce imbalances in our trading relationship,” he insisted.
Other lawmakers agreed with her. Catherine Omanyo stressed that it needs to be renewed, saying: “Without AGOA, many African economies will suffer. The U.S. needs to see the value this partnership represents.”
Kilifi North MP Owen Baya welcomed AGOA as a progressive model that has ensured that Africa boosts its manufacturing potential while tapping into the US market. He noted that Kenya’s Export Processing Zones (EPZs) have prospered under AGOA, creating thousands of jobs and boosting industrial growth.
Sirisia MP John Waluke made a direct appeal to the American leadership, requesting President Trump to support the extension in an attempt to protect Kenya’s economy from potential jolts.
Since it was signed into law in 2000, AGOA has transformed Africa-American relations, encouraging investments, supply chain diversification, and good governance standards. Lawmakers said the benefits are mutual: while access to the market helps Africa, the U.S. also gains better partnerships and opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Parliamentarians discovered that it is not only about trade when they renewed AGOA—it’s about protecting livelihoods, promoting shared prosperity, and shaping U.S.-Africa relations for generations.
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