KAM and Carole Kinoti Foundation partner to boost Kenya’s sustainable fashion manufacturing

The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has announced a partnership with the newly launched Carole Kinoti Foundation (CKF) to strengthen sustainable manufacturing in Kenya's fashion industry, marking a significant development in the country's Buy Kenya, Build Kenya initiative.

The partnership, announced during CKF's launch event at Capital Club in Nairobi, aims to transform local production in the cotton and leather value chains while promoting sustainable practices in Kenya's manufacturing sector.

"At KAM, we focus on creating prosperity for the nation through sustainable industrialization," said Joyce Njogu, Head of Consulting and Business Development at KAM. "This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to promote sustainable manufacturing while addressing key aspects of competitiveness, including inclusivity for SMEs, youth, and women in manufacturing."

 The collaboration comes as KAM prepares for its annual Changamka Shopping Festival, scheduled to begin on November 5th 2024. The festival, whose name means "be vibrant" in Swahili, serves as a marketplace for local manufacturers across 13 different sectors to showcase Kenyan-made products.

 "The Changamka Festival began as a way to demystify manufacturing and connect value chain actors," Njogu explained. "Many SMEs struggled to access raw materials and understand their entire value chain. The festival provides a platform where they can engage, collaborate, and participate in industry dialogue."

The partnership with CKF builds on KAM's previous successful initiatives in the fashion sector, including a 2018 international-level fashion show that supported SMEs by connecting them with larger manufacturers for production support while maintaining design independence.

 Carole Kinoti, founder of CKF, brings significant expertise in sustainable fashion and community empowerment. The foundation already works with communities in Turkana, Kajiado, and Busia, and has launched its flagship product, the Daima Mkenya Kikoy, made from cotton grown in Busia County.

“The Carole Kinoti Foundation is a testament to the power of fashion as a vehicle for social change. Through our efforts in skills development, resource access, and sustainable practices, we’re building more resilient communities and uplifting Kenyan talent to transform our economy sustainably.” said the CKF founder.

The collaboration between KAM and CKF will focus on; Promoting resource efficiency in manufacturing, supporting green manufacturing initiatives, developing sustainable practices in cotton and leather value chains, creating employment opportunities for women, youth, and persons with disabilities and strengthening local supply chains

Originally planned as part of this year's Changamka Festival, both organisations have rescheduled a dedicated fashion showcase for February 2025 around Valentine's Day. This event will spotlight sustainable practices in the cotton and leather sectors and feature storytelling about community impact.

"Many manufacturers have incredible stories of community impact, from providing water infrastructure to creating jobs and supporting education, but these stories often go untold," Njogu noted. "This partnership will help highlight these contributions while advancing sustainable practices in the industry."

The initiative comes at a crucial time as Africa's industrialization agenda increasingly emphasizes green manufacturing and waste elimination within value chains. Recent studies have identified cotton and leather as key growth areas for Kenya's manufacturing sector.

The upcoming Changamka Shopping Festival will showcase products from various manufacturing sectors, providing an immediate platform for promoting locally manufactured goods. The event emphasises the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya strategy's goal of increasing consumption of local products while building stronger domestic supply chains.