Abstract: The textile and apparel industry has the potential to move an economy into middle income status by providing gainful employment to many people. Kenya, like other developing countries, has the capacity to use its textile and apparel industry to move its economy forward. But this has not been possible given the influx of secondhand clothing (SHC) from US and Europe and other related factors. This SHC market also known as “mitumba” has created employment for some while stagnating the domestic textile and apparel industry in Kenya. Although Kenya and other East African Community (EAC) countries threatened to stop the importation of SHC, threats from the US government to suspend them from African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) free trade pact made Kenya and others to retreat. Rwanda was more determined and went ahead to gradually and eventually ban the sale of the SHC. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to outline lessons from Rwanda’s textile industry that can help boost Kenya’s textile and apparel industry. Following its 2015 policy against SHC, Rwanda increased tariffs on these clothes, gradually withdrew them, and eventually banned their importation in 2019. Despite Rwanda losing AGOA benefits of duty-free US market, the launch of “Made in Rwanda” brand made the industry to thrive. Exports have grown, the textiles industry has expanded and created employment. Additionally, the rise of the global interest in contemporary African designs clothing has seen Rwanda fashion entrepreneurs access international markets. Similarly, Kenya can learn from Rwanda and boost its own domestic textile and apparel industry.
Keywords: Kenya, Rwanda, Secondhand clothing, AGOA, textiles and apparel industry.
Title: EXPANDING KENYA’S DOMESTIC TEXTILES AND APPAREL INDUSTRY: LESSONS FROM RWANDA’S SECONDHAND CLOTHING MARKET
Author: Jane Opiri, George M. Andayi
International Journal of Management and Commerce Innovations
ISSN 2348-7585 (Online)
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