Every cow, sheep and goat in Kenya will be required to carry an Animal Identification and Traceability (ANITRAC) tag as the Government turns to technology to fight cattle rustling, strengthen disease surveillance, improve food safety and position Kenyan livestock for premium domestic and export markets.
Agriculture and Livestock Development CS Sen. Mutahi Kagwe said every cow will carry a distinctive yellow ANITRAC ear tag, giving each animal a traceable identity and making it increasingly difficult for stolen livestock to be moved or sold undetected.
CS Kagwe warned cattle rustlers against cutting off animals’ ears in an attempt to remove the tags, saying police should arrest anyone found with cattle whose ears have been cut.
“Every cow will have a yellow ANITRAC tag. If you are found with cattle without the tag, you must explain to the police. If somebody has cattle whose ears have been cut off, the police should arrest that person,” CS Kagwe said.
Beyond combating livestock theft, ANITRAC will enable animals to be traced through the livestock value chain, strengthen disease surveillance and help Kenya meet international market requirements on animal origin, health, food safety and traceability.
The rollout comes alongside the national livestock vaccination programme, in which more than 20 million cattle, sheep and goats have already been vaccinated nationwide as Kenya strengthens its animal health systems and livestock export potential.
Speaking during the official opening of the Central Kenya National Show 2026 in Nyeri, CS Kagwe also announced increased support for avocado and macadamia farmers through quality planting materials, extension services, aggregation, certification and improved access to markets.
He warned against harvesting and selling immature avocado and macadamia, saying the practice damages Kenya’s reputation in international markets and ultimately reduces farmer earnings.
International buyers require mature produce, traceability, consistent quality and dependable supply, and the Government will strengthen aggregation and certification while promoting increased local processing so that more jobs, value and income remain within producing counties.
“A farmer who sells a quality product into a well-organised market should earn more than a farmer who is forced to sell early to a middleman,” CS Kagwe said.
On tea, Kagwe said the Tea Levy Regulations, 2026, which came into operation on May 1, provide for a 0.8% levy on tea exports, with proceeds intended to strengthen tea infrastructure including feeder roads and buying centres, protect Kenyan tea from unfair competition and promote value addition.
He said farmers must see tangible benefits through better roads, efficient buying centres, stronger markets and improved returns, while Kenya increasingly moves beyond bulk tea exports into branding, packaging, blending and other forms of value addition.
On coffee, CS Kagwe said implementation of the Coffee Act, 2026 is 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 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.
CS Kagwe said the coffee reforms must now translate into results for farmers through transparent systems, quality planting materials, reliable research and extension services, stronger cooperatives and access to high-value markets.
For dairy farmers, the Government is expanding milk coolers, supporting fodder production and conservation and working to reduce the cost of quality livestock feeds. Sexed semen is also being heavily subsidised, bringing the farmer’s cost to approximately KSh 1,000–1,500 per dose at supported service points compared with commercial costs that can reach KSh 8,000 or more.
CS Kagwe said improving genetics, reducing milk losses through cooling and lowering feed costs will enable dairy households to increase production and retain more income.
The CS also reaffirmed Government support for subsidised fertiliser, certified seed and other essential farm inputs, alongside investments in early-warning systems, water harvesting, drainage, pest and disease surveillance, crop insurance and pre-positioning of inputs to protect farmers against extreme weather events.
Where a verified maize deficit arises, CS Kagwe said any imports will be strategic, time-bound and carefully managed to protect consumers from excessive unga prices without undermining local farmers or disrupting the harvest.
The Government is also prioritising better drying, storage, aggregation and access to market information to reduce post-harvest losses and prevent farmers from being forced into distress sales.
CS Kagwe said climate-smart agriculture must remain central across all agricultural value chains through water harvesting, efficient irrigation, resilient crop varieties, improved soil health, agroforestry, appropriate livestock feeds and reliable climate information.
He also challenged young people and women to look beyond primary production and take advantage of opportunities in agricultural technology, mechanisation, aggregation, finance, transport, processing, branding, marketing and exports.
“The success of agricultural transformation will not be measured only by the policies we announce. It will be measured by whether the farmer earns more, families access affordable food, young people find opportunity and our products compete successfully in local and international markets,” CS Kagwe said.