CS Kagwe Warns Antimicrobial Resistance Could Lock Kenya Out of Global Meat Markets

Kenya’s plan to grow its livestock sector into a Ksh450 billion industry could be at risk unless the country tackles antimicrobial resistance (AMR), Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has warned.

Speaking during the opening of the Kenya Meat Conference 2026 in Nyeri, Kagwe said the government aims to increase livestock’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 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 about 990,000 metric tonnes by 2028.

However, he cautioned that the ambitious target could be undermined if Kenya fails to curb antimicrobial resistance, warning that increasingly strict international food safety standards could lock the country out of lucrative global meat markets.

Kagwe said antimicrobial resistance (AMR), where bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, is a growing threat as buyers increasingly demand meat produced under responsible veterinary practices. 

“If left unchecked, antimicrobial resistance threatens not only human health but also Kenya’s livestock exports,” he said.

Kagwe added that premium export markets now require proof that meat comes from animals raised under responsible veterinary practices and free from harmful antimicrobial residues. 

He warned that a single failure to meet these standards could undo years of negotiations to access international markets.

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

To strengthen Kenya’s competitiveness, Kagwe announced that the government is reinforcing the oversight role of the Kenya Veterinary Board and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to ensure veterinary medicines are prescribed and administered only under the supervision of licensed professionals

Additionally, he stressed that responsible use of veterinary medicines has become a part of the reforms; the government is expanding investment in the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) to increase annual vaccine production from 45 million to over 70 million doses, reducing reliance on imports and strengthening disease preparedness. 

Further, the Ministry is also accelerating the rollout of the Livestock Identification and Traceability System (LITS) and the Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANITRAC) to digitally track animals from the farm to the slaughterhouse. 

“Our ambition is not simply to export more meat,” Kagwe said.

Adding, “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.”