Kenya risks losing access to lucrative Meat Export Markets unless it urgently tackles antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has warned.
Speaking on Wednesday during the opening of the Kenya Meat Conference 2026 in Nyeri, Kagwe said the country’s plans to expand the livestock industry and boost meat exports will only succeed if Kenya meets increasingly strict global food safety standards.
The government is targeting growth of the livestock sector into a Ksh450 billion industry by increasing its contribution to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the current 12 per cent to 20 per cent. It also hopes to raise annual meat production from 527,200 metric tonnes recorded in 2022 to nearly 990,000 metric tonnes by 2028.
However, Kagwe cautioned that those ambitions could be derailed if antimicrobial resistance is not brought under control.
He explained that antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, making diseases harder to treat. According to the CS, the issue has become a major concern in global trade, with importing countries demanding proof that meat products come from animals raised under responsible veterinary practices.
“If left unchecked, antimicrobial resistance threatens not only human health but also Kenya’s livestock exports,” Kagwe said.
He noted that premium export markets are increasingly requiring countries to demonstrate that their meat is free from harmful antimicrobial residues and produced under strict veterinary supervision.
According to the CS, failing to meet those standards could have serious consequences for Kenya’s export ambitions.
“A single failure can close markets, destroy years of negotiations and damage the reputation of an entire country,” he warned.
According to Kagwe, in order to protect the industry, the government is enhancing its regulatory measures regarding veterinary services through strengthening the roles of Kenya Veterinary Board and Veterinary Medicines Directorate. This step is meant to ensure that veterinary medicines are dispensed and administered only by licensed veterinarians.
In addition, the ministry is putting in more efforts to develop the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) for the sake of increasing the level of local vaccines production from 45 million doses per year to over 70 million doses.
This is expected to minimize the importation of vaccines and improve the capacity of the country to prevent diseases among livestock.
Moreover, the rollout of the Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS) and the Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANITRAC) will ensure that all the animals can be identified and traced using digital methods starting from the farms to the slaughterhouses.
According to Kagwe, the introduction of traceability systems will help to boost the consumer’s confidence regarding the origin and safety of meat products in Kenya.
“It is not our aim just to increase meat exports,” he added.
“What we would like to do is export confidence, quality and integrity. If any consumer anywhere across the globe sees the label ‘product of Kenya’, it must mean something for him regarding safety, traceability, high quality and best international standards.”
The minister said boosting food safety standards and improving disease control are two main pillars of the government policy to make Kenya a competitor on the global livestock and meat export market.
