Principal Secretary Dr. Juma Mukhwana speaks to stakeholders at the sensitization meeting with the Senate Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism…….Photo/IP
By Parto
NAIROBI, Kenya
Industry Principal Secretary Dr. Juma Mukhwana on Wednesday urged lawmakers to fast-track the enactment of the Kenya Leather Development Authority Bill, 2026, to unlock the economic potential of the country’s multi-billion shilling leather industry.
Speaking during a sensitization meeting with the Senate Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism, Mukhwana said the proposed legislation will establish a robust legal framework to drive policy and job creation.
“This bill will help us to harness the potential in the leather sector,” Mukhwana said, noting that Kenya’s vast livestock population is a massive raw material resource. “Kenya is blessed to have 80 million livestock.”
The Principal Secretary emphasized that the Kenya Leather Development Authority (KLDA) Bill will streamline regulations and create thousands of employment opportunities, particularly for the youth.
At the same event, Mukhwana also championed the Geographical Indication Bill, 2026.
He described it as a critical legal tool to protect the authenticity and uniqueness of products originating from specific regions across Kenya.
Enacting the Geographical Indication Bill will shield local goods from counterfeiting and help Kenyan products command premium prices on the global stage.
“Passing the bill will enhance that products in Kenya will attract premium prices in international markets, benefiting producers of the products,” Mukhwana told the committee.
Ends.
