East Africa’s textile industry falters on low investments

Athi River EPZ in Kenya

Workers at Athi River Export Processing Zone in Kenya. PHOTO | LUCY WANJIRU | NMG

Although East Africa has a massive capacity to produce cotton textiles and apparel given the availability of raw materials and human capital, the region scores relatively low in consumption of local textile products.

Over 70 percent of apparel sold in East Africa is imported second-hand clothes, while apparel companies based in Kenya export a majority of their products, particularly to the US.