An audit of Kenya's livestock export value chain

Abstract

For a long time Kenya has demonstrated its desire to access lucrative export markets for its livestock and livestock products. Although this desire matches the growing global demand for livestock products and increasing interest in livestock and livestock products from Kenya by livestock deficient countries, Kenya has not been able to meet the expressed demand. The reasons for this failure have not been sufficiently documented. Even when the information is available it is scattered in government and stakeholder documents and reports. Assembling such information would avail the tools needed to design goaloriented redressive packages to promote trade. This study used the value chain approach to document the factors that limit livestock export trade in Kenya. Questionnaire interviews were conducted with livestock producers (pastoralists & ranchers), traders, processors and importers. Pastoralists cited livestock diseases, poor roads and general insecurity as the main constraints to livestock supply. The ranchers indicated that drought, livestock theft, diseases, and Kenya's failure to meet sanitary requirements as the main constraints. Livestock traders cited high cost and delays in obtaining movement permits and disturbance by government officials along the stock routes. Processors on the other hand mentioned Kenya's failure to meet the international sanitary requirements. The only importer interviewed indicated that trade restrictions, Kenya's inability to control livestock diseases and the distance between them and Kenya as the main constraints. Stakeholders in the Kenya's livestock export value chain should address these constraints to revitalize export trade in livestock and livestock products.