Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe has warned that the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), fueled by the misuse of veterinary medicines, could undermine Kenya’s access to lucrative international meat markets if urgent action is not taken.
Speaking during the opening of the Kenya Meat Conference 2026 in Nyeri, Kagwe said AMR has evolved beyond a veterinary concern into a major public health, food security and economic challenge with farreaching consequences for the country’s livestock industry.
He noted that antimicrobial resistance is associated with an estimated 5.5 million deaths globally each year, with Kenya among the countries significantly affected. According to the Cabinet Secretary, adherence to international standards on the use of veterinary medicines is becoming increasingly important for countries seeking to access premium export markets.
“Responsible use of veterinary medicines is becoming a passport to international markets,” Kagwe said, warning that failure to comply with global standards on antimicrobial residues could reverse years of efforts to secure export opportunities for Kenyan meat products.
To strengthen regulatory oversight, the government is reinforcing the Kenya Veterinary Board and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to ensure veterinary medicines are prescribed and administered only under the supervision of licensed professionals.
Kagwe highlighted several ongoing reforms aimed at improving livestock health and boosting Kenya’s competitiveness in global markets.
These include the implementation of the National Livestock Vaccination Programme, increased investment in the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) to raise annual vaccine production from 45 million to more than 70 million doses, and the rollout of the Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS) alongside the Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANITRAC).
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He said traceability, food safety and transparency have become essential requirements for international trade, as consumers and importing countries increasingly demand assurances about the origin and safety of meat products.
The Cabinet Secretary also called for greater investment in value addition through modern meat processing, branding and certification to maximize returns from the livestock sector. He said the government is partnering with county governments and private investors to modernize abattoirs and expand export-ready processing capacity.
The government targets increasing the livestock sector’s contribution to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 12% to 20 % while nearly doubling annual meat production to approximately 990,000 metric tonnes by 2028, generating an estimated KSh450 billion annually.
Kagwe urged stronger collaboration among national and county governments, researchers, financial institutions and private sector players to position Kenya as Africa’s leading exporter of safe, traceable and high-quality meat products.
The two-day Kenya Meat Conference has brought together stakeholders from across the livestock value chain to explore strategies for expanding the country’s meat industry and strengthening access to international markets.
By Obegi Malack
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