Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe is leading plans to introduce a nationwide Animal Identification and Traceability System, known as ANITRAC.
The new system will give every animal in Kenya a unique identity and digital record.
This record will follow the animal throughout its life and help authorities know where it came from, who owns it, its health condition, vaccination history and movement from one place to another.
Animals will be identified through methods such as ear tags and microchips. Their information will then be stored on a central digital platform.
Authorised users, including veterinary officers, abattoirs, livestock traders and government agencies, will be able to check the records when needed.
Kagwe said the programme would improve how Kenya manages livestock while also protecting farmers and pastoralists.
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“Going forward, every Kenyan animal should have an identity and a traceable history. This will help us improve livestock management, strengthen disease surveillance, enhance food safety and open up better markets for our livestock producers,” Kagwe said.
The rollout comes at a time when many communities are dealing with livestock theft and cattle rustling.
Farmers and pastoralists in several parts of the country have lost large herds to criminals, leading to huge financial losses.
For many families, livestock is more than property. Cows, goats, sheep and camels are a source of school fees, food, business income and savings built over many years.
Losing an entire herd can therefore leave a family struggling to recover.
The ANITRAC system could make it more difficult for thieves to sell stolen animals through formal markets.
If an animal’s ownership details, identification number or movement records do not match, it can be flagged for further checks before being sold, transported or taken to an abattoir.
The digital system could also help during disease outbreaks. Authorities may be able to quickly trace where an infected animal came from and identify other animals it may have interacted with.
This could help reduce the spread of dangerous livestock diseases and protect consumers from unsafe meat products.
Kenya also hopes the programme will support access to better international markets. Many foreign buyers want proof of an animal’s origin, health and movement history before buying meat or livestock products.
Kagwe has encouraged farmers to also invest in better animal breeds, artificial insemination, quality feeds, insurance, feedlots and climate-smart farming.
However, the system will only work if farmers in remote areas are reached, trained and supported. The government will also need to protect farmers’ data and ensure registration is easy for all livestock owners.