The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary (CS) Peter Munya said that the policy would help the country’s deliverables to the realization of the Vision 2030 and the Big4 agenda.

In a speech read on his behalf by the ministry’s Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Lawrence Omuhaka at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) during the Kenya leather development policy validation workshop, Munya said that the key objective of the policy is to increase Kenya’s market share in the global leather industry.

Munya highlighted that the leather sector played a major role in the global economy, with an estimated global trade value of approximately $100 billion per year. This is said to be greater than the combined global value of meat, sugar, coffee and tea with this global trade value projected to grow to over $500 billion per year by 2027.

“The scope of this policy is wide. Its successful implementation will require commitment from all stakeholders, both public and private. The interventions will in many instances involve a paradigm shift in the industry dynamics, which will require strategic management,” said Munya.

“The leather sector in Kenya is estimated to be worth over Sh50 billion annually. Unfortunately, over 90 per cent of Kenya’s $94 million -Sh9.4 billion- leather exports are unfinished wet blue leather, whereas, further processing to finished leather and manufacture of leather products could create at least 50,000 more jobs and an additional $150-250 million -Sh15-25 billion- to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” said Munya.

Kenya Leather Development Council (KLDC) board Chairman Francis Munyoki said that the leather industry has the potential to drive the manufacturing agenda in the country which will create employment and bring in export earnings geared towards building the country’s economy and uplifting people’s livelihoods.

“This will move the country towards achieving Kenya’s vision 2030, the Big4 agenda and the United Nations (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” said Munyoki.