Digital Livestock ID Programme (ANITRAC) Set to Unlock New Export Opportunities, Says Kagwe

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has said the government’s Animal Identification and Traceability (ANITRAC) programme will transform Kenya’s livestock sector by improving traceability, strengthening disease control, and opening access to high-value international markets.

Speaking during a livestock sensitisation and tagging exercise in Kurawa, Tana River County, Kagwe described the initiative as a major step towards modernising the livestock industry and positioning Kenyan livestock products to meet the strict traceability standards required by premium export markets.

The exercise follows the national rollout of the ANITRAC programme, which was officially launched in Nyeri last week.

Under the programme, every registered animal will be assigned a unique digital identity, allowing authorities and buyers to track its origin, movement history, and health status throughout the production and marketing chain.

Kagwe said traceability has become a key requirement in global livestock trade, with many international buyers demanding detailed records before importing meat and livestock products. He noted that the digital identification system will enable Kenya to comply with these standards, creating opportunities to expand exports to markets in Europe, the Middle East, and other regions.

“The system is more than a livestock tagging exercise. It is the foundation of a modern livestock economy where every registered animal receives a unique digital identity that guarantees traceability from source to market,” Kagwe said.

He noted that Kenya’s estimated 77 million livestock make the sector one of the country’s most important economic pillars. According to the Cabinet Secretary, livestock contributes about 12 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and approximately 40 per cent of agricultural GDP while supporting millions of livelihoods, particularly in the arid and semi-arid lands.

Beyond improving export competitiveness, Kagwe said the traceability programme will strengthen disease surveillance by enabling veterinary authorities to quickly identify, monitor, and contain disease outbreaks. He added that the system will also help combat livestock theft, improve food safety, and enhance consumer confidence in Kenyan livestock products.

The Cabinet Secretary further revealed that the ANITRAC ear tags and electronic identification chips are being manufactured locally, creating employment opportunities while supporting Kenya’s growing agricultural technology industry.

He linked the initiative to the government’s broader livestock transformation agenda, including investments in the Kenya Leather Industrial Parks, which are expected to increase value addition by processing hides and skins locally instead of exporting raw materials.

Kagwe said the government’s long-term objective is to transform livestock keeping from a traditional livelihood into a competitive commercial enterprise capable of driving industrialisation, increasing export earnings, and strengthening rural economies.

Accompanied by Danson Mungatana and officials from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, the Cabinet Secretary urged livestock farmers to register their animals and participate fully in the ongoing tagging exercise, saying widespread adoption of the programme will be critical to unlocking new market opportunities for Kenya’s livestock sector.