PS Mueke: Kenya pork demand nearly doubles production

Kenya’s demand for pork is nearly double local production, the State Department for Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke has revealed.

Mueke said the widening supply gap provides untapped opportunities within the livestock sector.

Speaking at a national stakeholders’ sensitisation forum for the pig value chain held at Safari Park Hotel, Mueke said the country’s pork demand in 2025 stood at 38,500 metric tonnes against a production level of just 23,000 metric tonnes.

Despite the shortfall, the sector is already valued at approximately Sh20 billion.

“Yet per capita consumption remains low at 0.4 kilogramme compared with a 0.8 kilogramme global average,” Mueke noted, underscoring the significant room for growth in domestic consumption.

He added that projections indicate pork consumption in Kenya could rise by as much as 125 per cent by 2030, driven by rapid urbanisation and changing dietary preferences.

According to the PS, these trends present a major opportunity for farmers, investors, and policymakers to expand the sector and bridge the supply deficit.

“These numbers tell a clear story; pork presents a significant, under-realised opportunity,” Mueke said.

“The pig value chain contributes directly to household incomes and employment, especially for smallholder farmers who make up about 80 per cent of our producers.”

Mueke emphasised that pork is an affordable source of high-quality protein that can help improve food and nutrition security in the country.

He said Kenya’s pig population stands at approximately 981,182.

“With rapid urbanisation and changing diets, we must seize this moment to expand production, add value, and strengthen market systems.”

However, the sector continues to face several challenges that hinder its growth. These include the high cost of quality animal feeds, recurring disease outbreaks such as African swine fever, and limited market access due to inadequate processing capacity and gaps in cold-chain infrastructure.

Industry players echoed the need for urgent and coordinated interventions to unlock the sector’s full potential.

Felisters Gitau Mutugu, Chief Executive Officer of Farmer’s Choice Limited, called for stronger collaboration across the entire pig value chain.

“Transforming the pig value chain requires deliberate and sustained collaboration across production, processing, markets, and policy,” she said. “We must invest in farmer capacity, strengthen traceability and food safety systems, and build consumer trust, while expanding market access and opportunities for farmers.”

Mutugu stressed that unlocking growth in the sector would depend on robust public-private partnerships, noting that pig farming offers a unique advantage due to its efficiency.

“Pig production presents a unique opportunity. Pigs have a shorter production cycle, making them an efficient and scalable pathway to meeting rising demand for protein,” she added.