Kenya Unveils Bold Livestock Reforms to Unlock Global Market Access

Key Highlights

• Government rolling out initiatives to open regional and global markets for small-scale livestock keepers.
• Efforts focus on overcoming barriers such as limited markets, weak supply chains, and climate-related risks.
• Priority value chains include beef, goats, sheep, dairy, indigenous poultry, honey, and leather.
• Feedlots, commercialization, and cooperative models set to improve livestock off-take and farmer earnings.
• Experts stress innovation, research, and disease control as critical for competitiveness.
• Livestock contributes 12% to Kenya’s GDP and 42% of agricultural GDP, with 70% of animals in ASAL regions.
• Forum at Egerton University brought together policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to chart sector growth.

Kenya is intensifying reforms in its livestock sector with a series of government-backed initiatives aimed at opening up international markets for small-scale farmers.

The measures, officials say, will not only unlock new opportunities but also enhance the sustainability of the country’s livestock industry, which supports millions of households.

Professor Abdi Yakub Guliye, an advisor on Livestock and Rangeland Management in the Office of the President, said innovation is the key to harnessing the sector’s untapped potential.

He urged counties and private partners to align with national government efforts to establish structured markets, improve service delivery, and strengthen supply chains.

“The government is prioritizing critical value chains—including beef, sheep, goats, poultry, honey, dairy, and leather—to boost productivity and sustainability. Feedlots and commercialization will raise off-take and help farmers tap lucrative markets,” Professor Guliye said at a forum hosted at Egerton University’s Njoro campus.

The event, themed “Enhancing Livestock Productivity through Product Diversification, Commercialization, and Improved Quality of Services,” brought together over 20 counties, policy experts, veterinary specialists, researchers, and industry leaders.

Speakers noted that despite its vast potential, Kenyan livestock products remain uncompetitive due to transboundary diseases, poor quality standards, and underuse of innovation and technology.

They praised ongoing government efforts in research, animal genetics, and disease control programs designed to meet international trade requirements.

Professor Guliye emphasized the need to create a zero-waste ecosystem, where surplus meat and by-products are converted into other marketable goods.

He also called for stronger cooperatives, access to credit, ICT-based advisory systems, and better infrastructure to empower small-scale farmers.

Government data shows that the livestock sector contributes 12 percent to Kenya’s GDP and nearly half of the agricultural GDP. Around 70 percent of the country’s livestock is reared in arid and semi-arid lands, where pastoralist systems dominate.

The national herd includes 16 million indigenous cattle, 24 million sheep, 34 million goats, 4 million camels, and 48 million indigenous poultry.

Dr. Michael Cheruiyot, Nakuru County’s Chief Officer for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Services, stressed the importance of sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

“Strict health regulations are a prerequisite for international trade. Diseases like FMD and PPR remain trade-sensitive, and Kenya must step up control if recent trade agreements are to succeed,” he said.

Experts also highlighted Kenya’s strategic location and Africa’s 1.2 billion-strong consumer base as unique opportunities for exports.

With improved disease control, product quality, and commercialization, Kenya could become a competitive supplier to regional and Middle Eastern markets.

Dr. Cheruiyot added that the livestock sub-sector employs about half of agricultural labor and supports 60 percent of Kenyan households.

However, recurring disease outbreaks continue to threaten productivity and farmer incomes. He supported the government’s planned national livestock vaccination program as a step toward addressing these risks.

The forum concluded that deeper collaboration between national and county governments, coupled with private-sector investment, will be crucial to align policies, strengthen market systems, and ensure livestock farmers benefit from expanding domestic and international demand.