Livestock in Kenya accounts for 12% of Kenya’s GDP and 50% of the agriculture labour force. Approximately 70% of Kenya’s livestock is produced by about 10 million pastoralists in the Arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). These constitute 18 of the 20 poorest counties in Kenya and host the highest number of people living below the poverty line (below USD 1.25 per day)
Our Focus on Livestock
Why We Focus On Livestock
Our Vision
A modernized, efficient, organized and competitive meat industry that is linked to an improved value-added and profitable livestock production system.
This vision will be achieved through the following objectives and interventions.
Stimulate private sector investments to modernize and improve the sector competitiveness through the following interventions
- Creating consumer awareness on meat products, quality and safety to drive demand
- Promoting uptake of food safety standards by slaughterhouses and meat retailers
- Meat value addition and product differentiation
Increase sector productivity to meet the growing demand for livestock products through the following interventions
- Promoting uptake of commercial fattening and finishing models to increase yields
- Integrated Animal Health Service Provision for production inputs to support production that is market oriented
Create enabling environment and mainstreaming climate smart approaches to increase business resilience
- Large scale transformations reinforced by improved governance, policies and support from government, industry bodies and other market players
- Mainstreaming climate smart approaches in the critical upgrades
Sector At A Glance
The Sector
Livestock Sector employs 50% of agricultural labour force
- Livestock
- Others
Livestock contribution to Kenya’s overal GDP stands between 10% -13%.
- Livestock
- Others
Livestock contribution to Kenya’s agricultural GDP stands at 40%.
600,000 Metric Tonnes
That’s the amount of beef consumed in Kenya each year. However, data shows Kenyans are adapting white meat to replace red meat in their diets. White meat consumption is rising while red meat consumption is declining.
The Market
Kenya’s export has never exceeded 7,500 heads of cattle. Kenya’s export markets are the Middle East, West Africa, Central Africa and North Africa.
- Met Requirements
- Didn't Meet
98% of Kenyan produced beef, chervron and mutton does not meet the market requirements.
- Slabs
- Others
There are 334 licensed abattoirs in Kenya. 60% of those are slabs.
Only 2% of the licensed abattoirs (6 in total) are exporters and only 2 are manufactures.
This problem is majorly caused by the produce not meeting market requirements.
The Livestock
- ASAL Areas
- Other Areas
Approximately 88% of Kenya’s livestock is produced in ASAL areas. Out of those, only 14% are commercially traded in the market whereas the rest are reared for social and cultural reasons.
Livestock sector support approximately 10M Pastoralists in the ASALs.
This roughly a fifth of the entire Kenyan popullation depending on livestock for their livelihoods.
What Are Our Interventions?
Market Awareness
KMT inspires end market consumer awareness on diversified livestock products, food safety and retail skills for enhanced markets.
Product Processing Facilitation
KMT facilitates livestock product processing business services to increase value capture at the end of the value chain
Catalyzing Business Linkages
KMT catalyzes business linkages to improve live animal trade for reliable quality and quantity supply to the end markets
Facilitating Better Land Management
KMT facilitates the adoption of sustainable rangeland management practices and land governance.
Influencing Better Policies
KMT facilitates private sector led livestock industry voice to promote and actively participate in contributing towards review, formulation and implementation of market friendly favorable policies both at National and County levels.
Catalysing Access To Better Animal Health Service
KMT catalyse access to quality and affordable animal health service delivery to livestock producers.
Facilitating Livestock Risk Mitigation
KMT facilitates insurance companies and pastoralists to embrace commercial index based livestock insurance for risk mitigation.