Livestock sector set for boost as De Heus Kenya opens Ksh3 billion feed factory in Machakos

De Heus Kenya, the global animal nutrition company is set to officially open a Ksh3 billion state-of-the-art animal feed manufacturing facility in Athi River, Machakos County, on February 18, in one of the largest private-sector investments in Kenya’s livestock and agribusiness sector in recent years.

The new factory is expected to strengthen local feed supply, improve quality and consistency, create jobs and support national efforts towards food security and industrial growth.

The launch ceremony will be graced by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe and the Principal Secretary for Industry Dr Juma Mukhwana, alongside other senior government officials, industry stakeholders, farmers and development partners.

Speaking ahead of the launch, De Heus Kenya MD Wiehan Visagie said the facility reflects a long-term commitment to Kenya’s agricultural transformation.

“This factory is about building reliable systems for farmers,” said Visagie, adding that it will produce a wide range of animal nutrition products including compound feeds, concentrates, premixes and speciality feeds for poultry, pigs, ruminants and aquaculture.

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By producing feed locally, De Heus Kenya aims to shorten supply chains, improve traceability and tailor nutrition to Kenyan farming systems, helping farmers achieve more consistent results while reducing exposure to global supply disruptions.

“Through this initiative, we are also addressing long-standing challenges such as inconsistent quality and dependence on imports, while supporting farmers to improve productivity and profitability,” Visagie added.

Kenya’s livestock sector contributes an estimated 12 percent of national GDP, supporting millions of livelihoods, yet productivity remains below potential.

Feed costs account for up to 70 percent of total livestock production expenses, making feed quality and availability a critical determinant of farm performance.

The MD said that the Athi River plant will have an annual production capacity of 200,000 metric tonnes, with a future expandable capacity of 260,000 metric tonnes, positioning it among the largest feed mills in East Africa.

He said the facility is expected to create approximately 250 direct jobs and up to 1,000 indirect jobs across transport, logistics, packaging, distribution, and raw material supply chains.

The company also plans to source for key raw materials including maize and soybeans from Kenyan farmers, hence supporting local grain markets and rural incomes.

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Founded in 1911 in the Netherlands, De Heus Animal Nutrition operates more than 86 production facilities worldwide, focusing on animal nutrition.

The company combines global research with local manufacturing, testing and farmer support to strengthen livestock value chains.

In addition to manufacturing, De Heus Kenya provides technical advisory services to farmers, focusing on feed utilisation, ratio formulation and animal nutrition management.

These services are aimed at helping farmers translate feed quality into measurable productivity gains.

The opening of the Athi River factory highlights the growing role of private-sector investment, in partnership with government, in advancing Kenya’s food security agenda, industrialisation goals and the overall livestock sector development.

By Our reporter

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