The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has welcomed the formal signing into law of the legislation reauthorizing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by U.S. President Trump. This re-authorization will retroactively from 30th September 2025 to 31st December 2026 , ensuring continuity for Kenyan exporters.
The presidential assent solidifies the reprieve for over 66,000 Kenyan workers, particularly within the apparel, textile, and agribusiness sectors. It underlines the critical importance of this preferential trade framework and underscores KEPSA’s advocacy role in positioning Kenya as a crucial trade partner for global markets.
“The signing of this act provides the immediate certainty required to maintain investor confidence and protect existing jobs,” said Carole Kariuki, KEPSA CEO.
“While the current extension is shorter than the three years initially passed by Congress, we take note of the U.S. administration’s intent to modernise the program. KEPSA will embark immediately on the Kenya USA trade deal negotiations in collaboration with the government, ensuring mutual economic transformation, aligning with both Kenya and U.S. trade policies,” she added.
Ratification follows intense lobbying
The ratification follows coordinated advocacy efforts between the private sector, led by KEPSA, in collaboration with the Kenyan Government and regional partners to secure an AGOA renewal after its previous expiration deadline of 30th September 2025.
The engagements included high-level negotiations in New York at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in 2025, such as Kenyan and U.S textiles investor round-table meetings with the Kenyan government. Others were the Kenya-US Investment Forum held on 22nd September 2025, in partnership with the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), Kenya Investment Authority (InvestKenya), and the Government of Kenya, that advanced Kenya–U.S. trade, investment, and economic collaboration. Post UNGA, the Kenyan government continued with diplomatic efforts up until the point of this formal signing into law of the extension ACT, led by H.E. President Ruto.
Moreover, as part of its advocacy efforts, KEPSA’s engagement with the Parliament of Kenya led to Hon. Jane Kagiri tabling the motion for discussion, a move that further contributed to the concerted call for the renewal of AGOA. These efforts were enhanced with a KEPSA-led intensified media campaign, which helped translate AGOA’s impact on livelihoods, industries, and job creation and eventually lobby to get the attention of US President Donald Trump.
Trump signs New Agoa
On February 3rd 2026, the U.S. President signed a one-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), reinstating trade preferences for select African countries.
The renewed AGOA applies retroactively from from September 30, 2025, to December 31, 2026 offering a temporary solution and avoiding trade disruptions.
U.S. Trade Representatives aim to align AGOA with the ‘America First’ policy, indicating future adjustments.
Initially legislated in 2000, AGOA has supported various African industries, yet its future renewals now faces strict U.S. political scrutiny.
KEPSA has consistently termed this “the single most effective U.S. policy tool in Africa over the last 25 years. In 2024, Kenya exported $470 million worth of apparel to the U.S, supporting nearly 800,000 livelihoods dependent on AGOA.
For America, AGOA saves $200–250 million annually on consumer costs for products like jeans and uniforms, promotes stability in Sub-Saharan Africa by reducing conflict and extremism, and creates jobs in logistics, retail, and distribution of African imports.
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