Our Focus on Livestock

Why We Focus On Livestock

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 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;

1.

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

2.

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

3.

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 overall 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, chevron 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 population depending on livestock for their livelihoods.

Our Impact In The Livestock Sector

Over 225,000 households (over 1.5 million people) have access to improved livestock markets, out of which 175,000 households (1.2 million people) have seen their incomes improve

New Pastoralist Reached

129,753 pastoralist households have access to quality and affordable animal health inputs and services through an agency-based distribution model

Increased Income

90,318 households have realised increased income of £23,835,651(from the sale of higher quality livestock

Private Sector Investments

Supporting a women-led cooperative of about 300 female members on livestock aggregation and trade for better market access. Through this initiative, over 6,000 sheep and goats have been aggregated from Marsabit and Samburu counties with a cumulative income of GBP 348,300 over the last 12 months