Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe when he engaged ranchers in Taita-Taveta County on September 23, 2026 / HANDOUTKenya is stepping up efforts to transform livestock farming from a traditional livelihood into a commercially driven export industry by expanding access to water, finance, improved breeding and high-value markets.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Wednesday engaged ranchers in Taita-Taveta County as the Government intensified efforts to unlock the region’s livestock potential.
Kagwe was accompanied by Taita-Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime, State Department for Investment and Industry Principal Secretary John Mueke and Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime.
The engagement focused on interventions aimed at improving water availability, access to finance, markets and livestock breeding, which the Government considers key to shifting production from subsistence farming to a commercially viable enterprise.
At the centre of the strategy is the Bachuma National Livestock Quarantine Centre, which has been handed over to private investor Blue Mountain for commercialisation.
“It is strategically located to serve Kenya’s livestock-producing regions; Bachuma will provide quarantine, inspection and certification services for animals destined for export, helping Kenyan livestock meet international requirements on animal health, traceability and food safety,” he said.
The Government says Bachuma will help Kenyan livestock meet international requirements on animal health, traceability and food safety, while connecting farmers to international markets.
The facility is also expected to create opportunities for investment and employment while supporting higher incomes for livestock farmers.
The Government is also advancing a proposed County Livestock Investment Company model across 23 arid and semi-arid counties, targeting 15,000 livestock farmers in each county.
Under the proposed model, each farmer would contribute Sh3,000 towards a Sh10,000 share, with the Government providing the remaining Sh7,000.
The model would mobilise up to Sh150 million per county and Sh3.45 billion across the 23 counties.
The proposed farmer-owned companies would aggregate livestock, facilitate access to larger markets and enable farmers to benefit from returns through dividends or bonuses.
Meanwhile, the Animal Identification and Traceability system, known as ANITRAC, is being used to strengthen the livestock export chain by enabling animals to be traced to their source, including their origin, vaccination and animal health history.
The Government says traceability is critical for disease control, livestock security, consumer confidence and access to international markets.
In Taita-Taveta, the national and county governments will work with ranchers to identify strategic sites for water pans and other livestock infrastructure to support production across the county’s extensive rangelands.
The emerging public-private sector model will combine private capital, technical expertise and commercial efficiency with Government support through infrastructure development, water provision, regulation and policy.
The Government says the Bachuma facility will play a key role in its ambition to develop a competitive, traceable and high-value livestock export industry.
