Kenya’s Cotton: A New Ginnery Ignites Hope on the Coast

Mpeketoni, Lamu County

In a quiet corner of Kenya’s coastal region, the seeds of economic transformation are being sown—literally. On April 30, dignitaries, government officials, and industry leaders gathered in Mpeketoni for the ground-breaking ceremony of a new cotton ginnery, a project poised to revitalize an overlooked sector of the economy and empower thousands of rural farmers.

The facility, spearheaded by Thika Cloth Mills (TCM), is more than just a processing plant—it represents a bold vision for Kenya’s future in textile manufacturing and rural development. With support from the national and Lamu county governments, international donors, and local cooperatives, the ginnery promises to catalyze a regional cotton boom, bringing jobs, higher incomes, and renewed pride to communities long disconnected from the country’s industrial heartland.

“This ginnery is a symbol of the economic empowerment we are working hard to deliver,” said Lamu Governor Issa Timamy at the ceremony, where Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui also spoke. “We have secured land, built infrastructure, and mobilized farmers. This is about creating opportunity where it has been scarce.”

From Seed to Garment: Building a Sustainable Value Chain

For years, Kenyan cotton farmers faced a logistical nightmare. Without nearby ginneries, they had to transport raw cotton hundreds of kilometers inland to Meru, Kitui, or Makueni—adding time, cost, and risk to an already precarious livelihood. Now, with the new ginnery set to open later this year, over 15,000 farmers across Lamu and surrounding counties will have a local hub for processing their crops.

The numbers tell a story of rapid growth. In 2020, Lamu produced just 800 bales of cotton. By 2024, that figure had surged to more than 3,000 bales. Nearly 10,000 farmers now cultivate cotton across 19,000 acres. The timing of the ginnery could not be better.

“We’ve sourced all our cotton locally since last year—from Lamu, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Baringo, and beyond,” said Tejal Dodhia, Managing Director of Thika Cloth Mills. “Now, with a ginnery here, we can process it locally too. That means traceability, sustainability, and quality control from seed to garment.”

Government and Global Partnerships Fuel Growth

The project is a testament to the power of public-private partnerships. The national government, through President William Ruto’s administration, played a key role by facilitating the importation of 80,000kg of high-yield BT cotton seeds from Cameroon—a move expected to significantly boost production. Meanwhile, the Kenya Development Corporation committed Ksh250 million ($2 million) to accelerate construction.

International partners also stepped in. The UK government’s Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) program contributed £500,000 (Ksh80 million) to de-risk the investment and support infrastructure development. That funding will also help develop by-products like animal feed and cottonseed oil, diversifying income streams for the local economy.

“Without farmers, this project would not exist,” Governor Timamy reminded attendees. “Their resilience has laid the foundation for everything we see today.”

A National Vision for Local Fabrics

Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui hailed the initiative as a milestone in Kenya’s broader industrialization strategy. He urged Kenyans to embrace locally made textiles—not only for national pride but for economic resilience.

“This is part of our ‘Buy Kenya, Build Kenya’ campaign,” Kinyanjui said. “We’ve directed all disciplined forces to wear uniforms made from Kenyan cotton. Now we’re challenging schools, hospitals, and corporations to do the same. Let Kenyans wear homegrown fashion even on weekends.”

The message resonated with local leaders, including Principal Secretaries from the State Departments of Investment, Industry, Co-operatives, and Agriculture, who were recognized for their roles in promoting the cotton value chain.

Dr. Juma Mukhwana, PS for Industry, encouraged farmers to organize into cooperatives to gain better access to markets and fair prices. “Collective action unlocks collective benefit,” he said.

A Gateway to Global Markets

As the ginnery rises from the red earth of Lamu, its potential impact extends far beyond Kenya’s borders. With improved traceability and sustainable practices, Kenyan cotton is positioning itself for ethical global markets—an opportunity long out of reach for smallholder farmers.

“This isn’t just a ginnery,” said Dodhia. “It’s a gateway to greater prosperity—for families, for industries, for a nation ready to reclaim its place in the global textile market.”

With construction underway and optimism rising, the winds of change are blowing along Kenya’s coast. And in Mpeketoni, the hum of a new ginnery may soon echo the sound of progress.