Kenya Moves to Tag Every Cow, Sheep and Goat Under National Livestock Traceability Drive

The government plans to require every cow, sheep and goat in Kenya to carry an Animal Identification and Traceability (ANITRAC) tag as it steps up efforts to combat livestock theft and strengthen animal health surveillance.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the distinctive yellow tags will give individual animals a traceable identity and make it harder for stolen livestock to be moved through markets without detection.

Speaking during the official opening of the Central Kenya National Show in Nyeri, Kagwe warned livestock rustlers against removing identification tags by cutting animals’ ears. He said people found in possession of animals with deliberately mutilated ears should explain how they acquired them.

The ANITRAC system is expected to provide traceability across the livestock value chain, allowing authorities to track animals from identification through movement, marketing and processing. The system will also support disease surveillance, food safety and compliance with requirements in premium domestic and export markets.

The traceability rollout is being implemented alongside the national livestock vaccination programme. More than 20 million cattle, sheep and goats have already been vaccinated, as the government seeks to strengthen animal health and improve Kenya’s livestock export potential.

Kagwe also outlined measures targeting the dairy sector, including expansion of milk cooling facilities, increased fodder production and conservation and efforts to reduce the cost of livestock feeds. The government is also heavily subsidising sexed semen, bringing the cost to about Sh1,000 to Sh1,500 per dose at supported service points compared with commercial prices that can reach Sh8,000.

The measures are intended to improve livestock genetics, reduce milk losses and help dairy farmers increase production and retain more income.

In horticulture, the government is expanding support for avocado and macadamia farmers through quality planting materials, extension services, aggregation, certification and market access. Farmers have also been urged to avoid harvesting immature produce, which can affect Kenya’s reputation in international markets and reduce returns.

The government is promoting greater local processing of agricultural commodities so that more value, jobs and income remain within producing counties.

On tea, Kagwe said the Tea Levy Regulations, 2026 introduced a 0.8 per cent levy on tea exports from May 1. He said revenue from the levy would support tea infrastructure, including feeder roads and buying centres, while supporting efforts to increase value addition.

The government is also implementing reforms in the coffee sector following the establishment of the Coffee Board of Kenya and the Coffee Research and Training Institute. The reforms are expected to strengthen research, extension, farmer cooperatives, planting materials and access to high-value markets.

Kagwe further said the government would maintain support for fertiliser, certified seed and other farm inputs while investing in early-warning systems, water harvesting, drainage, crop insurance and pest and disease surveillance.

The government will also continue monitoring maize supplies, with any future imports to be strategic and time-bound if a verified deficit emerges. At the same time, it is prioritising better drying, storage, aggregation and market information to reduce post-harvest losses and distress sales.

The measures form part of a broader push towards climate-smart agriculture, with farmers encouraged to adopt water harvesting, efficient irrigation, resilient crop varieties, improved soil health, agroforestry and better livestock feeding practices.