Kenya Turns to Technology to Unlock Billions in Livestock Wealth

Kenya’s livestock sector is sitting on untapped wealth, but poor data and outdated systems continue to hold it back. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe says technology is the key to transforming the industry into one of the country’s biggest economic drivers.

Source:the-star.co.ke

Speaking in Mombasa during a livestock sector review with representatives from 23 arid and semi-arid counties, Kagwe revealed that conflicting figures put livestock’s contribution to GDP anywhere between four and 12 percent, making planning nearly impossible. He urged pastoralist communities, who hold nearly 70 percent of the national herd, to embrace modern tracking and digital tools to boost quality assurance, strengthen policies, and secure global market access.

“For too long, livestock has not received the attention it deserves. We are losing opportunities that could power our economy,” Kagwe said. He stressed that until farmers and herders start earning more from their animals, any other policy conversation is meaningless.

The CS outlined the government’s priorities: increasing earnings for small-scale farmers, adding value to livestock products, and digitising agriculture to enhance resilience. He pointed to successful lessons from Tanzania and Botswana, where strict systems in animal traceability, veterinary services, and value addition turned livestock into an export powerhouse. Kenya, he said, must follow suit.

Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi echoed these sentiments, arguing that the livestock economy could surpass tea, coffee, horticulture, and even tourism in its contribution to Kenya’s GDP. He noted that nearly 10 million Kenyans depend directly on the sector, which already contributes about 12 percent to the economy and 40 percent of agricultural GDP.

Globally, the livestock industry is worth trillions, with the meat trade alone valued at more than $1.3 trillion. Yet Kenya still treats livestock as a subsistence activity rather than a structured commercial system. Abdullahi called for a mindset shift and urged the country to invest in infrastructure such as abattoirs and transport hubs, strengthen veterinary services, and adopt modern systems like animal tagging and traceability.

“Our pastoral economy lives and dies with the climate,” Abdullahi warned, highlighting the devastation caused by droughts. He called for a National Livestock Development Fund and climate-smart planning to protect herders, as well as cooperatives to stabilise markets and empower pastoralists. “We have the livestock, we have the expertise, and we have the market waiting. What we lack is order, investment, and commitment.”

With the right systems in place, Abdullahi insisted, Kenya could take its place alongside Brazil, Botswana, and Uruguay in the global livestock market.