State-Backed Poultry Program Reshapes Rural Nakuru Livelihoods

In Summary

• Nakuru’s state-backed poultry program boosts rural incomes with KSh 25 million investment.
• Over 73,000 improved Kienyeji chicks distributed to farmers across 11 sub-counties.
• Program targets 1.5 million eggs monthly, worth KSh 15 million, and KSh 3 billion potential.
• Farmers receive training, incubators, and veterinary support to enhance productivity.
• Initiative focuses on women, youth, and disabled groups for economic inclusion.
• Nakuru aims to reduce reliance on imported eggs and meet rising local demand.

A state-backed poultry development program in Nakuru County is transforming rural livelihoods, generating millions in income through enhanced egg and meat production. The KSh 25 million initiative, a collaboration between the county government and the Ministry of Agriculture, has distributed 73,000 improved Kienyeji chicks to smallholder farmers across 11 sub-counties, targeting a monthly output of 1.5 million eggs valued at KSh 15 million.

The program, launched under Nakuru’s Economic Stimulus Program (ESP), focuses on empowering women, youth, and persons with disabilities. It provides high-yield, disease-resistant Kienyeji chicks, 96 automatic incubators worth KSh 6.8 million, and veterinary services to 110 cooperative societies. In 2024, Nakuru farmers earned KSh 875 million from 67 million eggs and KSh 489 million from 825 tonnes of chicken and 340 tonnes of turkey meat, with projections to exceed KSh 3 billion if efforts are sustained.

Governor Susan Kihika highlighted the program’s impact on food security and economic growth. “This initiative empowers rural farmers to meet market demands and improve their livelihoods through sustainable poultry farming,” she said at a recent cooperative meeting in Bahati. The county is also exploring intensified vaccination drives to curb disease outbreaks, a major challenge for small-scale farmers.

Dr. Immaculate Maina, County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, noted the focus on improved breeds. “These Kienyeji chickens mature faster, lay 220–280 eggs annually, and are disease-resistant, doubling the yield of traditional breeds,” she said. Over 700,000 farmers have been trained in disease control and best practices, with 10,000 fertilized eggs distributed to 28 farmer groups to boost hatching capacity.

Farmer Mary Wanjiku from Njoro praised the support. “With the training and incubators, I’ve tripled my egg production and now supply hotels in Nakuru town,” she said. However, some farmers, like Peter Kamau in Kuresoi, raised concerns about high feed costs. “The chicks are great, but affordable feeds would make a big difference,” he noted.

The program, supported by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), aligns with national goals to reduce reliance on imported eggs, which have flooded markets and lowered local prices. “We aim to make Nakuru a poultry hub, stopping unscrupulous traders from selling imported eggs,” said Eng. Festus Ng’eno, Acting CEC for Agriculture.

Nakuru’s poultry sector includes 1.5 million indigenous chickens, 100,300 improved Kienyeji breeds, 212,200 layers, 275,900 broilers, 44,000 turkeys, 73,000 ducks, and 14,500 geese. The county plans to expand market linkages through partnerships with financial institutions and cooperatives, ensuring farmers access regional and urban markets.