US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman Envisions Kenya as Africa’s Singapore

United States Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman believes that a revitalized manufacturing sector has the potential to propel Kenya to the position of Africa’s economic powerhouse.

Currently, manufacturing contributes only 7.2% to Kenya’s GDP, but Ambassador Whitman sees significant room for growth and job creation in this area. President William Ruto’s administration shares this vision and aims to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP by 20%. Ambassador Whitman, during her address at the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Business Summit in Nairobi, specifically highlighted the apparel sub-sector as a promising area of focus.

Kenya already has a strong foothold in apparel exports to the United States, with major clothing brands like Levi’s sourcing products from the country. Ambassador Whitman believes this trend will continue but emphasizes the importance of bolstering domestic cotton production to maximize this opportunity. Kenya’s cotton production has declined significantly since the 1980s, and the Ambassador sees a chance to create a vertically integrated apparel sector.

While acknowledging improvements in Kenya’s business climate, Ambassador Whitman also outlines the challenges Kenya must overcome to become a truly central economic force on the continent. She argues that Kenya must achieve consistent GDP growth of 6-8% annually and create one million new, high-paying jobs per year for the next decade to rival Singapore’s economic success. The Ambassador pledges US commitment to partnering with Kenya to achieve these goals through ongoing reforms that will unlock Kenyan innovation and business potential.

Whitman further emphasises Kenya’s attractiveness for business ventures saying that it is the best place to start and grow a business in Africa. She points to a growing number of businesses participating in the AmCham summit as evidence of a flourishing entrepreneurial spirit among Kenyans. Beyond manufacturing and apparel, Whitman also identifies tourism and the creative industries as sectors with the potential to transform Kenya’s economy. Trade, Investment and Industry Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano echoes these sentiments highlighting the alignment between these focus areas and the Kenyan government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

Cabinet Secretary Miano also discusses the positive and growing trade relationship between Kenya and the United States. She points to an increase in both Kenyan exports and imports from the US, with the trade deficit narrowing significantly in recent years. Looking ahead, Secretary Miano is confident in the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) and highlights ongoing negotiations for a strategic trade and investment partnership between the two countries. These developments are expected to further bolster business ties and economic growth in Kenya.