Leather industry gets Sh100M boost in Kenya

The government has allocated 100 million shillings to the leather sub-sector under the economic stimulus program.

 The funds will be used to improve and revitalize the leather sub-sector in order to ensure growth in the leather industry in the country.

 Livestock Development PS Kenneth Lusaka, says the country will now export finished leather products after adding value in place of the previous instances when raw leather has been exported fetching low returns.

 Lusaka however said the 100 million shillings is not adequate to realize the envisaged growth needed in the leather sub-sector.

 He said the country will save some 1.58 Billion shillings that has been used in the past to import leather products.

 Industrialization PS Prof. John Lonyang'apuo said that his ministry in partnership with that of Livestock, and other development partners was committed to addressing the challenges that affect the sub-sector.

 He said inadequate and low quality raw material, environmental degradation and infiltration of counterfeits are a challenge to the leather sub-sector.