Makueni County Launches “Mifugo ni Mali” Project to Strengthen Poultry Farming and Rural Livelihoods

Makueni County has launched the Mifugo ni Mali project in a move aimed at strengthening poultry farming and improving livelihoods for farmers across the county. The initiative was officially unveiled on Monday at the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) in Kwakathoka, led by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili.

The project is being implemented in partnership with the KCB Foundation and focuses on enhancing poultry production through comprehensive farmer training, coaching and mentoring, as well as regular farm inspections to promote quality, sustainability and disease control. As part of the launch, 17 farmers drawn from women, youth and persons with disabilities each received 300 vaccinated one-day-old chicks to support the establishment and expansion of their poultry enterprises.

The programme is anchored on a Memorandum of Understanding between the County Government of Makueni and the KCB Foundation. Under the agreement, the foundation supports the growth of small and medium enterprises through business development initiatives aimed at wealth creation and employment, particularly for women and young people. The county government, on its part, will provide continuous extension services, veterinary support, and access to cold-chain and vaccine-handling infrastructure.

Speaking during the launch, Deputy Governor Mulili said poultry farming remains the most widespread livestock enterprise in Makueni, with about 85 per cent of farmers rearing poultry. She cited county data validated in 2023 showing that the poultry subsector was valued at KSh 3.77 billion in 2022, supported by an estimated 1.57 million birds. According to the data, the subsector has recorded a 55 per cent growth since 2013, reflecting its rising contribution to household incomes and food and nutrition security.

County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Elizabeth Muli said the department has intensified efforts to transform poultry production, including increasing the productivity of indigenous chicken from an average of 45–60 eggs per hen per year to between 120 and 180 eggs. She added that more than 240 incubators are currently operational across the county, producing between 100 and 1,056 chicks per cycle, while 476 village-level vaccination service providers have been trained and equipped to strengthen disease control.

Through the partnership with the KCB Foundation, the county aims to further stimulate growth along the poultry value chain, improve input supply and market linkages, and enhance incomes and livelihoods for farming households.

The event was attended by KCB Human Resource Manager Kenya Cleophas Ambira and area Member of County Assembly Elizabeth Mutinda, underscoring the importance of public–private partnerships in advancing agricultural development in Makueni County.