Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, has called on counties to partner with the national government in transforming Kenya’s livestock sector into a pillar of food security, rural livelihoods, and economic growth.
Speaking during a joint consultative meeting with 24 ASAL Governors, he outlined priorities including rangeland restoration, sustainable animal feeds, livestock vaccination, animal identification and traceability, and targeted breed improvement.
“Our focus is on market-driven production, through disease control, financial access, stronger producer organizations, and structured marketing to tap lucrative markets,” he said.
He emphasized that livestock tagging under the government’s ANITRAC program is essential for export market compliance.
“It’s not witchcraft when we tag our animals; it is to your benefit that we must do it, so we can satisfy the export market,” he said.
The CS also supported a proposal by Council of Governors Chair and Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi for counties to engage agripreneurs, but only under a national certification framework to be anchored in agricultural colleges.
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“I agree with the proposal to certify agripreneurs so that we can professionalize this space. However, this must not be a license for unethical practices. Agripreneurs must be qualified in technology, soil management, and modern production systems before they are nationally recognized. We are not hiring agripreneurs; we are certifying them,” Kagwe stressed.
Governor Abdullahi cautioned that the pastoral economy “lives and dies with the weather” and pressed for a Livestock Commercialization Fund to cushion pastoralists nationwide. He noted that allocating just 3% of resources to agriculture, of which livestock receives only 10%, is inadequate.
Citing Botswana’s example, he urged Kenya to adopt strict livestock registration and tagging systems that underpin disease control and enhance market access.
Garissa Governor Nathif Adam, Chair of the ASAL & DRM Committee, said counties would consolidate their priorities into a comprehensive livestock blueprint to be presented to the CS for onward submission to the President.
By Juma Ndigo
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