The government has announced plans to establish national animal feed reserves in a bid to prevent massive livestock losses and protect pastoralist livelihoods during recurrent droughts.
Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe said the move was informed by the heavy toll of previous droughts, which he noted had killed more than 2.5 million livestock and caused economic losses exceeding Sh50 billion, particularly in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties.
Speaking during the launch of the Emkitha Dairy Cooperative Union in Embu County, Kagwe said drought should no longer be treated as an emergency but as a predictable challenge that requires advance planning.
“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,” he said.
Under the new directive, strategic animal feed reserves—including silage, hay and other drought fodder—will be stockpiled during periods of surplus and released during dry spells.
Counties will take the lead in planning, stocking and distribution, while the national government will provide coordination, funding and technical support.
Kagwe said cooperatives would be used as delivery agents to ensure feed reaches livestock owners efficiently, with early warning systems triggering timely deployment to prevent distress sales and livestock deaths.
“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,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary also announced stricter disease control measures, including restrictions on livestock movement from counties affected by Foot and Mouth Disease and other outbreaks.
County commissioners and security agencies will enforce the controls, while vaccination campaigns for diseases such as anthrax will be intensified and biosecurity at livestock checkpoints strengthened.
At the same event, Kagwe underscored the role of organized dairy cooperatives in boosting productivity and resilience, urging farmers to improve yields per cow rather than expanding herd sizes.
“Farmers can double milk production without adding a single cow. Feed, nutrition, and management, not numbers, are the fastest path to higher incomes,” he said.
Embu County currently produces about 101.3 million litres of milk annually, valued at Sh5.2 billion, but average productivity stands at eight litres per cow per day.
With better feeding, husbandry practices and cooperative coordination, Kagwe said production from the 19 cooperatives under Emkitha could rise significantly.
To support farmers, the government will continue fertilizer subsidies through cooperatives, adjust the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System (KIAMIS) to ensure benefits reach registered farmers, and roll out structured animal off-take programmes during drought.
Kagwe also confirmed additional funding for milk coolers in Embu, following last year’s delivery of 13 units worth more than Sh70 million, to reduce post-harvest losses and improve milk quality.
“We cannot afford reactive responses. Preparedness, coordination, and accountability are key,” he said, adding that counties remain on the frontline of drought preparedness, with national government oversight and support.
