The Association of Kenya Feed Manufacturers (AKEFEMA) has called for increased investment in quality animal feed production, saying it is critical to boosting livestock productivity, strengthening food security, and transforming Kenya’s agricultural sector.
Speaking ahead of the AKEFEMA Feeds Exhibition and Conference (AFEC) 2026, AKEFEMA Chairman Joseph Karuri said the livestock industry must become more productive and resilient to meet rising demand for milk, meat, eggs, and fish as Kenya’s population is projected to surpass 100 million by 2050.
More than 200 local and international feed manufacturers are expected to converge in Nairobi this week for the two-day conference to discuss challenges facing the sector and explore strategies to enhance investment, innovation, and sustainability.
Karuri said a strong feed industry is the foundation of livestock production, noting that quality animal feeds improve productivity, increase farmers’ incomes, create employment opportunities, enhance nutrition, and contribute to economic growth.
He, however, said the industry continues to face challenges, including shortages of key feed raw materials, climate change, global supply chain disruptions, rising production costs, and the need to strengthen quality assurance systems.
“Currently, we are unable to produce enough commercial feeds for the country’s livestock largely due to shortages of key raw materials. From the available resources, we are only able to produce 2.5 million metric tons, slightly over 60 per cent of the country’s installed capacity of four million metric tons,” said Karuri.
He said overcoming these challenges requires coordinated efforts among government agencies, feed manufacturers, farmers, researchers, financial institutions, development partners, and technology providers.
Karuri noted that AFEC 2026 will provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge, showcase innovations, explore investment opportunities, and recommend policy interventions to strengthen the competitiveness of Kenya’s feed industry.
He noted that Kenya has the potential to become Eastern Africa’s leading hub for feed manufacturing and animal nutrition through increased investment in local production of feed ingredients, modern manufacturing technologies, research, innovation, quality assurance systems, and farmer training.
While advocating for increased domestic production of feed raw materials, Karuri said strategic regional and international sourcing would remain necessary in the short and medium terms to ensure stable supplies and affordable feeds.
He reaffirmed AKEFEMA’s commitment to promoting compliance with national standards, good manufacturing practices, traceability, and industry self-regulation, saying safe animal feed is essential for safe food production and consumer confidence.
AKEFEMA Deputy Chairman David Murumba said the industry is promoting the adoption of Near Infrared (NIR) technology to enable real-time analysis of raw materials and improve feed quality, safety, and accuracy in formulation.
Murumba said wider use of the technology, together with modern automated milling equipment, would help reduce production costs, improve livestock productivity, and detect contaminants such as mycotoxins before processing.
He called on the government to waive import duties on animal feed raw materials to address shortages and reduce production costs, noting that only about 10 percent of feed manufacturers have adopted NIR technology.
AKEFEMA Chief Executive Officer Paul Kamau said Africa’s growing population, expanding middle class, and large livestock population present significant opportunities for the animal feed sector but require adoption of modern technologies and innovative approaches to production.
Kamau said improved feed manufacturing systems, intensive farming methods, and biotechnology in crop production would be critical in increasing yields and ensuring reliable supplies of feed ingredients for both livestock and human consumption.
AKEFEMA Deputy Secretary General Dr Wilfred Kamau called for increased investment in the sector, saying access to capital was essential for small and medium-sized millers to expand operations, improve quality, and modernize their facilities.
He said investment in machinery, skilled personnel, and quality raw materials would help lower feed costs and make animal products such as eggs, milk, and pork more affordable by consumers.
AFEC 2026 will be held on July 15 and 16 in Nairobi, bringing together stakeholders from the animal feed sector from 27 countries across six continents.
By Wangari Ndirangu
