Kenya plans to manufacture leather shoes locally for all 14 million school going children giving domestic footwear manufacturers a large guaranteed market and supporting the country’s leather industry.
Kenyan President William Ruto announced the plan at the Innovation Summit in Nairobi on November 4, calling on local footwear manufacturers to supply schools across the country.
The initiative builds on the government’s efforts to expand local leather manufacturing and create jobs. A Ksh 5.8 billion (~$44.8 Million) investment is already supporting the Kenya Leather Industrial Park in Kenani, Machakos which was unveiled in September 2026.
ALSO READ: Kenya Cabinet Approves $44.8 Million Leather Value Chain Development Support Project
Ruto said the government also plans to decentralise manufacturing so that counties across Kenya can benefit from new industrial opportunities.
The announcement follows an earlier directive requiring security agencies to purchase locally manufactured boots. By October the government had confirmed that military and police boots were being made locally with imports banned.
