Kenya Establishes Animal Feed Reserves to Avert Sh50 Billion Drought Losses

Kenya is set to establish national animal feed reserves in a bid to safeguard pastoralist livelihoods and prevent the massive livestock losses seen during recent droughts. Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe described the drought as a predictable challenge that demands proactive measures rather than emergency reactions. Kagwe noted that the last major drought wiped out more than 2.5 million livestock and inflicted economic losses estimated at over Sh50 billion, devastating pastoralist communities across Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL). The CS spoke on Monday during the launch of the Emkitha Dairy Cooperative Union in Embu County. “Drought is no longer an emergency; it is a recurring reality. We must act before losses occur. The government is committed to protecting pastoralist assets through structured feed and water provision, animal off-take programmes and disease control measures, while ensuring long-term strategies are in place to prevent future droughts from escalating into emergencies,” Kagwe said. Under the new policy directive, strategic stockpiles of hay, silage, and other drought fodder will be stored during surplus periods and deployed during dry spells. Counties will lead implementation efforts on planning, stocking and distribution, while the national government will provide coordination, funding and technical support. Cooperatives will serve as delivery agents to ensure feed reaches livestock owners efficiently. Early warning systems will be integrated into the deployment framework to prevent distress sales, livestock deaths, and price collapses. “We cannot allow drought to destroy livestock livelihoods. Feed reserves are critical to stabilizing incomes, protecting food production, and reducing losses worth billions of shillings,” Kagwe added. Complementary measures will also target animal health and disease control. The CS announced strict enforcement against the movement of livestock from counties affected by Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and other outbreaks, with County Commissioners and security agencies overseeing compliance. Vaccination campaigns for FMD and anthrax will be intensified, and livestock checkpoints upgraded for stronger biosecurity. During the Emkitha Dairy Cooperative Union launch, Kagwe also underlined the economic potential of dairy cooperatives to increase productivity and resilience. He urged farmers to focus on raising milk yields through proper feeding and livestock management rather than expanding herd sizes. Embu County currently produces approximately 101.3 million litres of milk annually, valued at Sh5.2 billion. With average productivity at just 8 litres per cow per day, Kagwe argued that improved nutrition, husbandry practices and cooperative coordination could significantly boost output, with estimates suggesting that the 19 cooperatives under Emkitha could collectively deliver more than 397,000 litres per day. “Farmers can double milk production without adding a single cow. Feed, nutrition and management, not numbers, are the fastest path to higher incomes,” Kagwe said. The government will also expand its cooperative-based input delivery model to benefit both pastoralists and dairy farmers. Fertilizer subsidies will continue under the existing structure, with cooperatives offering last-mile delivery and agricultural loans. Adjustments to the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS) will ensure subsidies reach registered farmers directly. Structured animal off-take programs will further reduce losses during drought emergencies by purchasing livestock early at fair market value. Kagwe confirmed that additional funding has been approved for new milk coolers in Embu, supplementing last year’s installation of 13 coolers valued at over Sh70 million. The expanded cold chain infrastructure aims to reduce post-harvest losses and support quality-based payment systems that reward farmers for improved hygiene and milk safety. Kagwe emphasised that counties serve as the frontline for drought preparedness and livestock protection, with the national government playing a supporting role through funding, oversight and policy guidance.