CS Kagwe warns misuse of veterinary medicine could lock Kenya out of global meat market

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has warned that the misuse of veterinary medicines could not only endanger millions of lives but also shut Kenya out of lucrative international meat markets.

Speaking during the opening of the Kenya Meat Conference 2026 in Nyeri, Kagwe sounded the alarm over the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), terming it one of the greatest silent threats facing global livestock production.

According to the CS, recent global estimates show antimicrobial resistance is associated with approximately 5.5 million annual deaths, with Kenya ranked among countries significantly affected by AMR-related mortality.

"If left unchecked, antimicrobial resistance threatens not only human health but also Kenya's livestock exports," CS Kagwe warned.

He noted that premium international markets are increasingly subjecting imported animal products to rigorous testing for antimicrobial residues and responsible veterinary drug use, meaning a single failure could cost Kenya years of painstaking market negotiations.

"A single failure can close markets, destroy years of negotiations and damage the reputation of an entire country," he said.

CS Kagwe announced that the government is strengthening the Kenya Veterinary Board and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to ensure veterinary medicines remain strictly under the supervision of licensed veterinary professionals.

He emphasized that responsible use of veterinary medicine is no longer about good farming practice but has become a prerequisite for international trade.

"Responsible use of veterinary medicines is becoming a passport to international markets," he said.

Kagwe stressed that antimicrobial resistance should now be viewed as a food security issue and a public health concern that demands coordinated national action.

The remarks come as the government plans to reposition Kenya among Africa's most trusted exporters of premium livestock and meat products.

He said the government aims to increase livestock's contribution to the country's Gross Domestic Product from the current 12 per cent to 20 per cent, while nearly doubling annual meat production from 527,200 metric tonnes recorded in 2022 to almost 990,000 metric tonnes by 2028, generating an estimated Ksh.450 billion annually for the economy.

He observed that global meat buyers are increasingly demanding confidence, traceability, food safety, disease-free production systems and consistency.

"They purchase trust. That trust must now become Kenya's greatest export," he said.

He asserted that protecting animal health remains the foundation of a globally competitive livestock industry, announcing continued implementation of the National Livestock Vaccination Programme targeting trade-sensitive animal diseases that have historically restricted Kenya's access to premium export destinations.

He revealed that the government is making unprecedented investments in the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) to increase annual vaccine production from approximately 45 million doses to more than 70 million doses, reducing reliance on imported vaccines while strengthening national preparedness against disease outbreaks.

Beyond disease control, Kagwe said Kenya is accelerating implementation of the Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS) together with the Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANITRAC) to ensure every animal can be identified, tracked and certified throughout the production chain.

"The modern consumer wants to know where the animal was born, where it grazed, which veterinary officer treated it, which medicines it received, which abattoir processed it and which laboratory certified it. That level of transparency is no longer optional. It is becoming the global standard," he said.

CS Kagwe is calling for stronger collaboration among government, county administrations, researchers, financial institutions, development partners and private investors to transform Kenya into Africa's leading supplier of premium meat products.

"Our ambition is not simply to export more meat. It is to export confidence, quality and integrity. When buyers anywhere in the world see the words 'Product of Kenya,' they should immediately associate them with safe, traceable, high-quality products that meet the highest international standards," he said.

The two-day conference has brought together leaders from across the livestock value chain to chart Kenya's path towards becoming a globally competitive meat producer and exporter.