Ruto Bans Imported Boots For KDF, Security Agencies To Boost Local Manufacturing
President William Ruto has stated that all shoes acquired for Kenya’s security agencies are now being manufactured locally as part of the government’s push to encourage domestic manufacturing and cut imports.
Ruto stated that he had mandated that all government spending on footwear for security forces, including the National Police Service (NPS), Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), and the Kenya Prisons Service, be reserved solely for Kenyan manufacturers.
On Monday, June 29, the Head of State spoke in an interview with Felix Omondi, also known as Dr King’ori.
“The one instruction I have given is that any money spent on buying shoes for our security agencies must be used to purchase shoes made in Kenya,” he stated.
He disclosed that concerns were raised over the quality of locally made shoes.
However, he instructed officials to provide manufacturers with the required specifications instead of sourcing the footwear from abroad.
Ruto said local manufacturers were able to produce shoes that met the required standards, allowing the government to fully adopt local sourcing for security agency shoes.
According to the President, Kenya’s annual shoe production has increased from five million to 11 million pairs over the past three years, with the government now targeting production of 20 million pairs annually.
He added that the increased local production is expected to create up to 20,000 jobs, with manufacturers also partnering with colleges to train more skilled workers in shoemaking.
“The money we have been spending to buy shoes from all over the place is now in Kenya. And the number of people being hired in Kenya is now growing,” he said.
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The President said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to progressively reduce the country’s reliance on imported shoes while strengthening the local leather industry.
To this end, he pointed to the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPs) project, which is establishing facilities in all 47 counties to support manufacturing closer to the source of raw materials.
Ruto said the parks are modelled on the Kariokor, where government-provided machines are used to produce shoes.
He noted that the Sagana industrial park has already attracted two investors.
Subsequently, they have begun processing products using raw materials sourced within Kirinyaga County, while the one in Busia is nearing completion.
According to the President, the industrial parks are intended to curb the export of raw materials, promote local processing and create employment opportunities for young Kenyans across the country.
Ruto Bans Imported Boots For KDF, Security Agencies To Boost Local Manufacturing
