• Kenya is in talks with Algeria to export sheep ahead of Eid al-Adha in May 2026.
• Algeria’s livestock import program could require up to 1 million sheep.
• Nairobi hopes the deal could open a long-term export market beyond its current buyers.

Kenya is seeking to export shipments of sheep to Algeria ahead of Eid al-Adha in May 2026, a major religious holiday in the Muslim world when demand for sacrificial animals rises sharply.

The plan was announced on March 6 by Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture, which said it has begun talks with Algerian authorities to accelerate livestock exports.

Agriculture Minister Mutahi Kagwe said Nairobi aims to take advantage of a livestock import program launched by Algeria as part of preparations for Eid al-Adha. The program could require up to 1 million sheep.

According to the ministry, securing access to the Algerian market would offer a significant opportunity for Kenyan livestock producers and traders. Officials say it could eventually develop into an export market worth several billion Kenyan shillings each year.

Opening the Algerian market would also help Kenya diversify export outlets for its livestock sector and capture a larger share of the global market.

Data compiled on the Trade Map platform show that Kenya exported about $2 million worth of sheep and goats in 2024, almost entirely to Oman and Tanzania. Algeria, by contrast, imported roughly $7.8 million worth of sheep and goats during the same year.

If the negotiations succeed, Algeria could become a regular destination for Kenyan livestock exports and help boost revenues from the country’s trade in live animals.

Kenya’s national herd counted about 26.2 million sheep and 38.4 million goats in 2024, according to estimates from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

Stéphanas Assocle