The State Department for Cooperatives and that for Investment Promotion have taken a major step toward reviving Lamu County’s once-thriving cotton sector, with the duo reaffirming the national government’s commitment to repositioning the crop as a cornerstone of Kenya’s agricultural and industrial growth.
Principal Secretary for Cooperatives, Mr. Patrick Kilemi, CBS, accompanied by the Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, Abubakar Hassan, paid a courtesy call on Lamu Governor Issa Timamy at the County Headquarters in Mokowe. The high-level meeting came just days before the official launch of the National Cotton Growers Co-operative Union (NACGCU) Limited and ahead of an inspection of the ongoing construction of a modern cotton ginning plant in Mpeketoni.
The talks centred on national development priorities, with cotton emerging as a focal point of discussion. The Principal Secretaries underscored that revitalizing the cotton value chain could be transformative for Kenya’s economy—boosting incomes for smallholder farmers, generating new employment opportunities, and opening pathways for value-added exports in textiles and apparel.
“Cotton remains one of the key crops with the potential to anchor Kenya’s industrial agenda,”
PS Kilemi noted, emphasizing the State Department of Cooperatives’ determination to strengthen farmer organizations and ensure they benefit from economies of scale. He added that the revival of cooperative structures would be critical in enabling farmers to access markets, financing, and extension services.
Governor Timamy welcomed the national government’s support, saying the developments mark a turning point for Lamu.
“This initiative will not only uplift local farmers but also position Lamu as a hub for cotton production in the region,”
he said.
The ginning plant under construction in Mpeketoni is expected to play a central role in the value chain by processing raw cotton locally, reducing post-harvest losses, and ensuring farmers earn higher returns. It also ties into the broader plan to strengthen Kenya’s textile industry, one of the key sectors identified in the government’s manufacturing agenda.
Beyond Lamu, officials reiterated that the national cotton revitalization program would extend to all 23 cotton-growing counties across Kenya, reflecting a broader strategy to restore the crop to its former prominence.
With the launch of NACGCU and new investments in processing facilities, Kenya’s cotton sector could soon see a renaissance—rekindling a vital industry that once supported tens of thousands of households and feeding into the country’s ambitions to expand exports under regional and global trade frameworks.