Mombasa, Kenya — Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, has called on county governments to work closely with the national administration to reposition Kenya’s livestock sector as a cornerstone of food security, rural livelihoods, and national economic growth.
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Speaking during a joint consultative forum with 24 Governors from Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) in Mombasa, Kagwe outlined a comprehensive agenda focusing on 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,” said Kagwe.
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The CS emphasized that livestock tagging under the government’s Animal Identification and Traceability (ANITRAC) program is non-negotiable for meeting international export requirements.
“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 remarked.
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Kagwe backed a proposal by Council of Governors (CoG) Chair and Wajir Governor, FCPA Ahmed Abdullahi, to integrate agripreneurs into the sector, but cautioned that their involvement must operate under a national certification framework.
“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.
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Governor Abdullahi underscored the sector’s vulnerability, noting that the pastoral economy “lives and dies with the weather.” He called for the creation of a Livestock Commercialization Fund to cushion pastoralists from climate shocks, criticizing the current allocation of just 3% of national resources to agriculture—of which livestock receives only 10%—as inadequate.
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Drawing comparisons with Botswana, Abdullahi urged Kenya to adopt stricter livestock registration and tagging systems to strengthen disease control and unlock new markets.
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Garissa Governor Nathif Jamaa, EGH, who chairs the ASAL & DRM Committee, announced that counties will consolidate their priorities into a comprehensive livestock blueprint for submission to the CS and onward presentation to President William Ruto.
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Other Governors present included Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa), Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi), Andrew Mwadime (Taita Taveta), Simon Kachapin (West Pokot), Joshua Irungu (Laikipia), and Benjamin Cheboi (Baringo).
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