Kenya introduces Livestock Bill to regulate animal feeds

KENYA – Kenya’s National Assembly has introduced the Livestock Bill, 2026, which proposes a new legal framework to modernise livestock production, strengthen animal disease control and regulate livestock inputs, including animal feeds.

The Livestock Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 25 of 2026), sponsored by Majority Party Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, underwent its first reading on 13 October 2026.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish specialised institutions to coordinate livestock research, oversee industry inputs, improve livestock marketing and support value addition across the sector.

For the animal feed industry, the Bill proposes establishing a regulatory authority to oversee livestock inputs and products, including animal feeds and breeding materials. 

The authority would regulate their manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution and sale.

The Bill also proposes a Kenya Livestock Research Organisation dedicated to livestock research and technological development, separating this function from the broader mandate of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO).

Funding and market development

The proposed legislation includes a Livestock Sector Transformation Fund to finance livestock development programmes, support disaster response, stabilise livestock product prices, facilitate trade and promote agro-processing.

It also proposes a livestock marketing board to provide market intelligence, promote domestic and international trade, improve market infrastructure and identify market demand.

These measures could affect feed manufacturers and livestock producers by shaping the regulatory environment, research priorities and development of livestock value chains. 

However, their impact will depend on the legislation’s final provisions and how the proposed institutions are funded and implemented.

Other provisions target animal health and breeding. The Bill proposes a Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council to coordinate disease control, alongside a Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre to conserve genetic resources and support breeding programmes.

The legislation would also establish the Kenya School of Animal Resources and Industry to oversee training institutions and the Kenya Leather Development Authority to promote leather processing, manufacturing, investment and market development.

In addition, the Bill proposes a framework to support the commercialisation of beekeeping.

The legislation aims to strengthen coordination across Kenya’s livestock sector, but it must pass through the parliamentary process before its proposals become law.

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