By Dorothy Musyoka
The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming Kenya’s livestock sector into a profitable, modernised industry as part of its broader economic empowerment and food security agenda.
Speaking after receiving a status update from the State Department for Livestock, Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki outlined key interventions to support livestock keepers and grow the sector’s contribution to the national economy.
Among the flagship initiatives is the National Livestock Vaccination Programme, which is helping curb the spread of livestock diseases, safeguarding productivity, and reducing losses for pastoral communities.
“The national livestock vaccination programme, the Kenya Leather Industrial Park ( KLIP) and the enhancement of farmer earnings from milk are some of the interventions that are on course in the implementation,” stated DP Kindiki.
The Kenya Leather Industrial Park (KLIP) is set to revitalise the leather industry by supporting value addition and providing thousands of jobs across the supply chain.
To boost dairy earnings, the government continues to prioritise the enhancement of milk production and market access for farmers.
According to the second in command, earnings from milk and dairy products have seen a sharp increase over the last three years:
- KES 4.9 billion in 2022
- KES 7.5 billion in 2023
- KES 9.5 billion in 2024
The Government has pledged to continue investing in livestock infrastructure, market access, and value addition while working closely with counties, cooperatives, and the private sector to realise full commercialisation.
The Ministry plans to scale up programmes in 2025 that support animal health, breed improvement, climate-smart practices, and improved access to financial and insurance products tailored for livestock farmers.