Shollei Backs Local Content Bill, Citing Boost for Farmers and Local Industry

Gladys Shollei has thrown her support behind the proposed Local Content Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 45 of 2025), saying it will create sustainable markets for locally produced raw materials and strengthen Kenya’s manufacturing sector.

Speaking on the Bill, the Uasin Gishu Woman Representative and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly said the legislation is key to empowering farmers and reducing reliance on imports.

Shollei pointed to the success of Rivatex Textile Company as a practical example of how local industries can support farmers. She noted that the company has played a significant role in reviving cotton farming by prioritizing locally grown cotton for its production.

“The Bill will ensure that our industries consume what our farmers produce, creating a ready market and improving livelihoods,” she said.

The legislator also recalled her efforts to protect local wheat farmers from unfair competition by imported produce. She revealed that she took a firm stand against the clearance of low-quality imported wheat, insisting that millers first purchase wheat harvested locally.

“I was at the forefront in blocking the clearance of substandard imported wheat until millers absorbed what had been produced by our farmers,” Shollei stated.

The proposed law seeks to prioritize the use of Kenyan goods, services, and labor in key sectors, a move supporters argue will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and enhance value addition.

If passed, the Local Content Bill is expected to provide a framework for increased utilization of domestic resources, positioning local industries and farmers at the center of Kenya’s economic development agenda.