Machakos, Kenya – Global animal nutrition company De Heus Kenya is set to officially launch a Sh3 billion (USD 23 million) state-of-the-art animal feed manufacturing plant in Athi River on February 18, 2026, marking one of the largest private-sector investments in Kenya’s livestock and agribusiness industry in recent years.
The new facility is expected to significantly strengthen local animal feed supply, enhance product quality, create employment opportunities, and support national efforts to improve food security and drive industrial growth.
The official opening ceremony will be presided over by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, alongside Principal Secretary for Industry Dr. Juma Mukhwana. The event will also bring together senior government officials, industry leaders, farmers, and development partners.
Speaking ahead of the launch, De Heus Kenya Managing Director Wiehan Visagie said the investment demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment to transforming Kenya’s agriculture and livestock sectors.
“By producing feed locally, we are tackling challenges such as inconsistent quality and reliance on imports, while helping farmers improve productivity and profitability,” Visagie said.
The Athi River plant will have an initial annual production capacity of 200,000 metric tonnes, with the potential to expand to 260,000 tonnes, positioning it among the largest animal feed mills in East Africa. The facility will manufacture a wide range of animal nutrition products, including compound feeds, concentrates, and specialty feeds for poultry, pigs, ruminants, and aquaculture.
In terms of employment, the factory 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.
De Heus Kenya also plans to source key raw materials such as maize and soybeans locally, a move expected to support Kenyan farmers, strengthen agricultural value chains, and boost rural incomes.
The launch of the Athi River facility underscores the critical role of private-sector investment, in partnership with government, in advancing Kenya’s food security agenda, industrialization drive, and broader socio-economic development goals.
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