Livestock CS Mutahi Kagwe/SCREENGRAB
Agriculture and Livestock Development CS Mutahi Kagwe has pitched the government's Animal Identification and Traceability (ANITRAC) programme as a game changer for Kenya's livestock sector.
Speaking during a livestock sensitisation and tagging exercise in Kurawa, Tana River County, Kagwe said ANITRAC is more than a livestock tagging programme, describing it as the foundation of a modern livestock economy that will enable Kenya to compete in high-value international markets.
The exercise follows the national rollout of the programme, which was launched in Nyeri last week.
The CS said every registered animal will receive a unique digital identity to enable traceability from the farm to the market.
International buyers, Kagwe said, are increasingly demanding proof of an animal's origin, movement history and health status before allowing meat and livestock products into premium markets.
According to the CS, ANITRAC will position Kenya to meet those requirements, opening opportunities in Europe, the Middle East and other export destinations.
"The system is more than a livestock tagging exercise. It is the foundation of a modern livestock economy where every registered animal receives a unique digital identity that guarantees traceability from source to market," Kagwe stated.
The CS noted that Kenya is home to an estimated 77 million livestock, making the sector one of the country's most strategic economic pillars.
He said livestock contributes about 12 per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product and approximately 40 per cent of the agricultural GDP while supporting millions of livelihoods, particularly in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).
Beyond improving market access, Kagwe said the traceability system will strengthen disease surveillance and control by allowing veterinary authorities to quickly identify and contain disease outbreaks.
He added that the programme will also help curb livestock theft, enhance food safety and restore consumer confidence in Kenyan livestock products.
Kagwe further revealed that the ANITRAC ear tags and electronic identification chips are manufactured locally.
The move, the CS said, will create jobs, support local industries and demonstrate Kenya's growing capacity to produce agricultural technologies.
He also linked the programme to the government's investment in the newly established Kenya Leather Industrial Parks, adding that the facilities are intended to promote value addition by processing hides and skins locally instead of exporting raw materials.
He reiterated that the government's long-term vision is to transform livestock keeping from a traditional livelihood into a modern commercial enterprise capable of driving industrialisation, increasing exports and positioning Kenya as a trusted supplier of safe, traceable and high-quality livestock products in the global market.
Accompanied by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana and officials from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, Kagwe urged livestock farmers to cooperate with the ongoing registration exercise.
