Regional livestock leaders meet in Nairobi to advance cross-border trade

KENYA – Key livestock stakeholders from Kenya, Tanzania, and Somalia convened in Nairobi today to chart a coordinated pathway for strengthening live animal trade and exports across the East African region. 

The high-level consultation, organised by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Kenya’s Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS), brought together public and private sector players, county officials, and animal health experts from the three countries.

The meeting aimed to identify practical measures to enhance livestock health systems, improve biosecurity, and unlock cross-border market opportunities. 

Participants stressed that a harmonised regional approach is vital for delivering economic benefits to pastoral and agropastoral communities, strengthening market linkages, and ensuring consistent access to Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) compliance mechanisms.

Officials also used the forum to validate a recent feasibility study funded under a Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) Project Proposal Grant that assessed opportunities to establish a new regional livestock trade initiative. 

With the validation now complete, a drafting team led by KALRO, supported by FAO through an international consultant, will revise the project proposal to incorporate stakeholder insights. 

The refined proposal is expected to align more closely with global SPS standards and regional livestock development priorities.

Kenya stands to gain significantly from the proposed project, including improved market access, better disease surveillance and control, strengthened veterinary laboratory systems, and the operationalization of animal traceability systems. 

The study also identified potential investments in feedlots and feed production zones that could boost the competitiveness of Kenyan livestock products in export markets.

KALRO to build US$1.3 million research centre in Nyeri

In separate developments, KALRO announced plans to construct a Sh200 million (approximately US$1.3 million) research centre in Kieni, Nyeri County, as part of a broader effort to expand access to agricultural technologies and innovations.

According to KALRO Board Chairman, Dr. Thuo Mathenge, the new facility will become the organisation’s 65th research hub and will serve Nyeri and neighbouring counties lacking similar centres. 

“The centre will bring our services closer to the people of Nyeri,” he said, adding that the region’s coffee and tea farmers would benefit from improved, high-yielding varieties and enhanced extension support.

Dr. Mathenge made the remarks during a courtesy call to Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga ahead of an MoU signing on October 22. 

The county government has leased 20 acres at the Agriculture Mechanization Services in Naru Moru for the project, which is expected to advance climate-smart agriculture and strengthen local food security.

Governor Kahiga expressed full support for the initiative, noting that the research hub and planned KALRO shop will give farmers easier access to inputs at subsidised prices. 

“There is a need to continue researching on the correct seedlings, the correct types of livestock feeds and medicine and this should be done here,” he said.

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