Kenya has a potential market to grow its leather business, but has for decades relied on imports for consumption of leather products.
In Africa, the country has the third largest market of leather.
Today, Kenya produces only four million pairs of leather shoes with largest percentage of consumers being men.
With three million livestock slaughtered in the country annually, President William Ruto said his administration will see to it that leather contribution to Gross Domestic product (GDP) is pushed from the current Ksh.15 billion to Ksh.75 billion.
The Ksh.15 billion is a mere fraction of Ksh.1.5 trillion global market of leather industry
Kenya’s main output is wet blue (85 percent), leather crust (nine percent) and finished leather and products (six percent) — is primarily exported to China, Italy and India.
Other finished products are mostly exported to the EAC region and other parts of Africa. And some have made their way to USA and parts of Europe, although in small volumes.
While addressing manufacturers at Serena Hotel, Nairobi Wednesday, President Ruto challenged the sector players to leverage the opportunity and create wealth and jobs among the Kenyan youth.
