• Kenya plans to roll out the ANTITRAC animal identification and traceability system nationwide.

• The system aims to curb cattle theft and improve animal health management.

• Kenya targets expanding meat exports to Africa and doubling milk production by 2033.

Kenya’s government is stepping up efforts to modernize its livestock sector, which contributes 42% to agricultural GDP and 12% to the national economy. On July 9, Jonathan Mueke, Principal Secretary for Livestock Development, announced the imminent rollout of the Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANTITRAC).

Currently piloted on public farms, ANTITRAC will soon launch in Busia County. “Every animal will have a tag with a microchip. When scanned, the system will display the owner’s name, the animal’s weight, date of birth, milk production levels, and vaccination records,” Mueke explained. “This will enhance market transparency and increase livestock value, benefiting farmers.”

The government designed ANTITRAC to tackle persistent challenges like cattle theft. It also aims to strengthen animal health management and control epizootics, which severely impact African livestock systems. The traceability system will enable better monitoring and optimization of interventions to boost local livestock productivity, especially in milk and meat sectors.

Mueke emphasized that the ANTITRAC system will facilitate market transactions and increase the value of animals, benefiting breeders, while also noting that although demand for animal products is high, low productivity continues to hold the sector back.

Kenya is eager to capture a larger share of Africa’s meat market. In February, the Kenya Meat and Livestock Exporters Council announced plans to target Libya and Nigeria as new export destinations. Meanwhile, the Kenya Dairy Board adopted a 10-year roadmap in 2023 to nearly double milk output to 10 million tonnes by 2033.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum