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Kenyan textile firms, governors decry plans to import duty-free fabric

07 Feb '24

2 min read

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Textile firms and governors from 24 cotton-growing counties in Kenya are concerned over the plan to import duty-free fabric.
The proposed decision will jeopardise the sector and devastate cotton farmers, they fear.
As state-controlled Rivatex has been revised, supporting farmers is crucial to ensure the availability of raw materials, they feel.

Textile manufacturers and governors from 24 cotton-growing counties in Kenya recently raised concern over the government’s plan to import duty-free fabric, fearing the proposed decision will jeopardise the sector, devastate cotton farmers and the progress made in reviving the sector will go in vain.

Importing duty-free fabric will affect farmers who are facing challenges, including factory closures, said Homa Bay county governor Glady Wanga and her Busia counterpart Paul Otuoma.

As state-controlled Rivatex has been revised, supporting farmers is crucial to ensure the availability of raw materials, they feel. Rivatex managing director Thomas Kipkurgat said modernisation of the facility is 98 per cent over and new machinery is expected to raise production capacity and product quality.

“It contradicts the bottom-up economic agenda's focus on creating jobs and empowering farmers,” Wanga was quoted as saying by a Kenyan media outlet.

The commitment by farmers to supply enough raw materials warrants government support, said Otuoma, calling for extension services to educate farmers on better practices to boost yield.

Calling for embracing the 'Buy Kenya, Build Kenya' spirit, Thika Cloth Mills managing director Tejal Dodhia cautioned about the risk of job losses due to reliance on imports.

“Ninety-five per cent of our products are 100-per cent cotton. I urge everyone to oppose duty-free fabric imports we can produce ourselves,” added Kipkurgat.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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