African Workers in Limbo as Agoa Faces Expiry

Published: 30 September ‘2025. the English Chronicle Desk

In Nairobi, Kenya, the hum of sewing machines usually fills garment factories like Shona EPZ with a rhythm of productivity, but today, that rhythm carries an air of uncertainty. For thousands of African workers, the impending expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) threatens not only their livelihoods but the broader economic stability of their countries. Agoa, enacted 25 years ago, has allowed African nations to export thousands of products duty-free to the United States, fostering jobs, industrial growth, and global trade participation. Now, as the expiry date approaches, workers and business owners alike face a precarious future.

Joan Wambui, a 29-year-old worker at Shona EPZ, has been employed for just six months, but her salary has already become the backbone of her household. Supporting her four-year-old daughter, two sisters in college, and her mother, Wambui describes the looming threat of job loss with palpable anxiety. “If Agoa expires, where shall we go?” she asks, her hands and feet moving in synchronized urgency on the sewing machine. For Wambui, employment has been about more than income; it has been a source of dignity, the ability to pay school fees, and a hope for a better future. “It’s going to hit me hard. Finding a new job in Kenya is extremely difficult,” she adds, folding a freshly stitched piece of fabric.

Kenya’s apparel sector has prospered under Agoa, with exports to the US reaching $470 million in 2024 alone, supporting over 66,000 direct jobs, three-quarters of which are held by women, according to the Kenya Private Sector Alliance. Factories like Shona EPZ have become crucial employers, particularly for youth who have struggled to find stable work in an increasingly challenging economic environment. Wambui notes that many employees were previously marginalized, some with histories of drug addiction or homelessness, and employment at Shona EPZ provided them with stability and a chance at rehabilitation.

Shona EPZ’s director, Isaac Maluki, emphasizes the impact of uncertainty on operations. Normally producing nearly half a million garments per month, the factory’s output has dropped to roughly a third this year as international buyers hesitate to commit to long-term orders. Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration earlier this year have already affected sales, and without an Agoa extension, the factory may face layoffs or even closure. “If the extension isn’t granted, we may have to send people home and possibly shut down,” Maluki explains. The factory has invested $10 million over the past seven years, and a lapse in the trade deal could render that investment effectively wasted.

The implications of Agoa’s potential expiration extend far beyond Kenya. More than 30 African countries currently export over 6,000 products to the US under the programme, including textiles, agricultural goods, and manufactured items. Agoa has been credited with fostering industrial growth, increasing employment, and strengthening Africa’s foothold in global trade. However, African negotiators face the challenge of redefining their approach in future discussions with the US. Trade policy expert Teniola Tayo emphasizes the importance of clear objectives, noting, “African countries need to figure out what they want from the US and what they can offer in exchange for market access.”

African leaders have intensified lobbying efforts in Washington. During the recent UN General Assembly, trade matters were high on the agenda. Kenya’s Trade Minister Lee Kinyanjui stressed the importance of at least a short-term extension, describing it as a crucial transition measure. Simultaneously, Kenya is pursuing a bilateral trade deal with the United States, with President William Ruto expressing hope for an agreement by year-end, while urging Washington to maintain duty-free access under Agoa for at least another five years. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued similar warnings, noting that the lapse of Agoa would have serious repercussions for his nation.

Amid the uncertainty, African countries are also exploring new markets to reduce dependence on the US. Regional trade within Africa, facilitated by the African Continental Free Trade Area, offers opportunities to produce higher-value goods rather than solely exporting raw materials. Tayo highlights this approach as a strategic move for long-term economic resilience.

Yet for workers like Wambui, the slow pace of diplomacy and trade negotiations offers little solace against the daily pressures of sustaining a family. “We have ideas and the drive to make a difference. We just need support to show our potential,” she says, taking a brief break from the sewing line alongside her colleagues.

Agoa’s expiration is more than a legal or economic question; it represents the potential disruption of thousands of lives, the destabilization of fledgling industries, and the reversal of progress made over decades. For workers, families, and factory owners across Africa, the coming weeks will determine whether the trade deal’s legacy endures or dissolves, leaving many in financial and social uncertainty.

For Joan Wambui and countless others, the outcome is profoundly personal. It is about the ability to feed children, support education, maintain dignity, and preserve hope for a future built on opportunity rather than deprivation. The decisions made in Washington and across African capitals in the coming days will not only shape trade policy but the lives of ordinary people whose ambitions and livelihoods are entwined with the fate of Agoa.