This archive report was first published on 23 October 2019.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has issued a directive for government employees to wear locally made attire on Fridays and during public holidays, as part of a scheme to promote the country's textile industries.
The directive, issued in a circular from the office of the Attorney General on October 17, 2019, aims to achieve the President's Big 4 Agenda on manufacturing.
According to the circular, all government employees are required to wear decent, smart casual Kenyan-produced and tailored attire on Fridays.
Top government officials and ministries have reportedly received similar instructions, with some already embracing the new trend.
During Mashujaa Day celebrations in Mombasa on Sunday, President Kenyatta, his Deputy William Ruto, and Cabinet Secretaries wore Kenyan-made attire, setting an example for Kenyans to embrace local products.
Locally made attire is expected to become a new trend for government employees across departments, with the aim of promoting the local textile industries.
This is not the first time the government has pushed for the adoption of Kenyan wear to boost local markets. During the commissioning of ultra-modern textile industry Rivatex this year, President Kenyatta appealed to Kenyans to wear 'Made in Kenya' clothes.
