Abstract:
Kenya’s textile sector is a significant contributor to the country’s economic growth.
However, liberalization of Kenya’s economy at the beginning of 1990s ushered in
great competition from imported clothing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate
the challenges that hinder growth of apparel industry in Kenya. A review of
secondary data, on studies related to impact of the various challenges on the Kenyan
textile sector was undertaken. The reviewed studies included published reviews and
research papers in journals, university level dissertations, theses and published
books. The words used to search the literature included apparel, apparel industry,
apparel sector, development, Kenya, Kenya cotton farming, impact on apparel
industry, apparel import and exports. It was established that inadequate supply of
skilled labor and raw materials restrict growth of this industry. Thus, if spinning,
weaving, knitting, dyeing and finishing can be done locally, production process
becomes cheaper. The prospect of this industry relying on local produce of cotton
fabric is low unless urgent interventions are made. There is therefore a need for the
government to support growth of this industry by subsiding production of cotton by
local farmers and instituting appropriate taxes on imported fabrics.
