Ruto: We will stop importing shoes by 2027 and wear our own

President William Ruto has said Kenya will stop importing shoes in 2027

 President William Ruto has announced that the government has set apart Sh100 million to build a footwear factory.

He said the Kenya Kwanza administration is invested in developing the leather sub-sector to support competitive export industries supporting many thriving enterprises and households.

In this connection, he added, they have committed to implement strategies aimed at increasing incomes from Sh15 billion to Sh120 billion a year.

"We are also working at multiplying job opportunities from 17,000 to 100,000 and raising annual footwear production from the current eight million to 36 million pairs worth Sh72 billion by 2027," he said.

"I have made this committed that shortly, we will not be importing shoes from anywhere. We will be wearing our own shoes. Made in Kenya, using own our leather."

He spoke during the Madaraka Day Fete on Saturday at Masinde Muliro Stadium in Bungoma.

The President revealed that it is their strategy to transform the leather value chain from one driven by exports of raw material and semi-processed products to a sophisticated industry manufacturing internationally competitive finished leather and leather products, thus mopping up to three million hides and 18 million skins produced each year.

"We are developing local capacity to handle hides and skins to provide quality raw material, tanning as well as the local manufacturing of finished leather goods such as shoes, bags, and belts," he said.

Financially, the government's commitments include Sh400 million which has been allocated to upgrade the Ewaso Ng’iro South Development Authority’s leather factory.

"Sh200 million of the funds will be used to acquire modern equipment, Sh100 million to build a footwear factory and Sh100 million to mop up hides and skins," Ruto said.

Ruto said machinery for increasing processing capacity at the factory has already been procured and installed.

"To supply quality hides and skins, 703 flayers have been trained and subsidised flaying equipment provided to 680 slaughter points," the President said.

by SHARON MWENDE