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All forms of livestock, including both beef and dairy cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses and camels among others will be regulated by a new authority if the proposed Livestock Bill 2024 sails through in Parliament.

Sponsored by the Leader of Majority in the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung’wah who is also the MP for Kikuyu,  the Bill seeks to restrict unregistered livestock farmers from participating in the manufacturing of animal feeds to sell. An unregistered farmer found manufacturing feeds for sale will be penalised with a fine of Sh500,000 or serve a one-year imprisonment.

The Livestock Inputs and Products Regulatory Authority will also prescribe the type of inputs that will be used in livestock production.

Any farmer found using disallowed ingredients will be punished with a two-year jail service or part with a fine of Sh2 million. “A person shall not import, manufacture, compound, mix or sell any animal feedstuff other than a substance that the Authority may, by order, declare to be an approved animal feedstuff,” the Bill proposes in part.

It adds: “A person who contravenes this regulation is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or both.”

Valid licence

The Bill inhibits any person or company from engaging in commercial livestock breeding unless they are registered by the new authority and hold a valid license issued to operate as such.

“A registered livestock breeder shall not use the premises, facility, machinery, plant article or thing specified in the registration certificate and license to conduct any business other than livestock breeding unless that other business is related to livestock breeding and the Authority has granted permission in writing thereof,” sections of the Bill state.

Ichung’wa has also proposed, in the Bill that beekeepers be registered, standards of bee hives and their branding be regulated alongside disposal of bees, honeycombs and beehives through a consultation between the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Livestock and the Council of Governors.

According to the Majority Leader, the Bill is essential in reviving the battered and largely unregulated livestock sector.

But if enacted, the Bill will create new government positions at a time when President William Ruto administration has been citing implementation of austerity measures owing to growing financial challenges. Ichung’wa proposes that the new Authority which will succeed National Livestock Development and Promotion Service be managed by a chairperson appointed by the President, as well as Principal Secretary in charge of Livestock.

Others to be involved in the management are Director of Veterinary Services, Director of Livestock Production, and a County Executive Committee Member appointed by the Council of Governors.

The new regulator will control the production, manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution and sale of animal feedstuff with respect to fodder, concentrates, supplements, feed additives and premixes to ensure compliance with national standards. It will also approve, register breeding animals and undertake performance recording and genetic evaluation, oversee sustainable use and conservation of animal genetic evaluation, oversee sustainable use and conservation of animal genetic resources and monitor the utilization of imported and local animal genetic resources intended for breed improvement.

“The Authority will regulate imported and locally manufactured equipment used in the livestock sector, regulate the production, processing, sale and importation of hive products, set standards for livestock infrastructure including design and construction of livestock structures, maintain a national database for livestock value chain actors including breeders, breeder,” the proposed law read in parts.

Satisfactory performance

It will be run mostly by a chief executive officer who will be appointed by its board, an ex-official member of the board who will be eligible for reappointment after a three-year satisfactory performance.

The Bill imposes power on the authority to establish various institutions meant to deal with specific functions geared towards maximising productivity in the sector.

Among the institutions that will be established by the new authority are the Kenya Livestock Research Organisation, Livestock and Livestock Products Marketing Board, Livestock Inputs and Product Regulatory Authority, the Livestock Inputs and Product Regulatory Authority among others. The institutions, according to Ichung’wa, shall be strengthened through establishment of training institutions.