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  • Publication | 2025
Reducing the cost of livestock feeds in Kenya: Policy options and recommendations
Global Food and Nutrition Security

Kenya’s livestock sector plays a critical role in the country’s social, economic, environmental, and public health landscape. In 2023 it contributed 3.8% to the national GDP and 17.3% to agricultural value added (KNBS 2024). However, the sector’s productivity and sustainability are significantly hindered by the high cost of animal feeds, a challenge driven by technical, market and policy factors. The country produces 46 million metric tons (MT) of dry matter (DM) as animal feed resources against the national feed requirement of 55 million MT of DM, indicating a deficit of 9 million MT. This deficit is worsened by competition with human food needs for some feed ingredients, in addition to post harvest losses, leading to an actual deficit of about 30 million MT or 60% of the requirement. The feed gap is partially met through importation of energy- and proteinrich feed ingredients. Not only are the import taxes high the prices are dictated by international market forces. In addition, cheaper alternatives such as GMO products are banned. The overall effect is high cost of and an unmet demand for livestock feeds (KCSAP/ELRP 2023).