CS Kagwe: Every cow, sheep, goat to get yellow ear tags

By  Mercy Mwende

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

A stolen cow may soon become harder to move and sell undetected as the government rolls out a nationwide livestock identification system that will give every cow, sheep and goat a traceable identity.

The Animal Identification and Traceability (ANITRAC) system is expected to help combat livestock theft while strengthening disease surveillance, food safety and Kenya’s access to premium domestic and export markets.

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the system would make it increasingly difficult for stolen livestock to be moved or sold without detection.

Speaking during the official opening of the Central Kenya National Agricultural Society of Kenya Show in Nyeri on Friday, Mr Kagwe said every cow would be fitted with a distinctive yellow ANITRAC ear tag.

“In the coming days, every cow in the country will have a tag. If you are found with cattle without a tag, you must explain to the police. If somebody has cattle whose ears have been cut off, the police should arrest that person,” Mr Kagwe said.

The system will allow animals to be traced through the livestock value chain, enabling authorities to establish their origin, health status and movement while strengthening disease surveillance.

It is also expected to help the country meet international requirements on animal origin, health, food safety and traceability, improving the country's prospects in livestock export markets.

Mr Kagwe also announced measures to lower production costs for dairy farmers, including an expanded rollout of milk coolers, support for fodder production and conservation, and improved access to quality livestock feeds.

He said the government was heavily subsidising sexed semen, reducing the cost to farmers to between Sh1,000 and Sh1,500 per dose at supported service points, compared with commercial prices that can exceed Sh8,000.

According to the CS, the government is also seeking to improve productivity and returns in the crop sector, with reforms in the coffee industry now moving into the implementation stage.

Mr Kagwe said that following the enactment of the Coffee Act, 2026, implementation was moving into the operational stage following the establishment of the Coffee Board of Kenya and the Coffee Research and Training Institute.

President William Ruto appointed Henry Gichuhi Kinyua as the non-executive chairperson of the Coffee Board on September 4, while the ministry is finalising the gazettement of the council and chairperson of the Coffee Research and Training Institute.

He said the reforms should translate into better returns for growers through transparent systems, quality planting materials, extension services and stronger links to high-value markets.

Tea farmers will also be affected by a new levy framework under the Tea Levy Regulations, 2026, which provide for a 0.8 per cent levy on tea exports.

Mr Kagwe said the proceeds would support tea infrastructure, including feeder roads and buying centres, as well as value addition.

“I am, however, warning farmers against harvesting and selling immature produce as the practice damages Kenya’s reputation in international markets and reduces farmers’ earnings,” he said.

The government, he said, would strengthen aggregation and certification while promoting local processing to retain more value and jobs in producing counties.

The Central Kenya ASK Show marked a platform for Parliament to take discussions on agricultural laws and policies directly to farmers.

For the first time at the show, parliamentary committees took discussions on agricultural legislation, policies and budget allocations close to farmers and other stakeholders, in a bid to bridge the information gap between lawmakers and citizens.

The engagement brought together members of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and the National Assembly Committee on Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library.

Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, who led the forum, said discussions focused on agricultural subsidies, food and nutrition security, seed systems, plant health, produce standards, livestock protection and sustainable fisheries management.

The engagement gave farmers an opportunity to understand proposed and enacted agricultural laws while allowing lawmakers to hear directly from those expected to implement and benefit from them.

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