LIVESTOCK RELATED ACTS, POLICIES and REGULATIONS

Kenya's livestock sector is governed by several acts and policies aimed at:-

 Promoting sustainable development,

 Ensuring animal welfare, and
 Addressing challenges like drought and disease.

Key legislation includes the :-

1. Livestock Protection and Sustainability Act,

2. The Livestock Bill (2024),
3. The Animal Diseases Act, and
4. The Crop Production and Livestock Act, as well as the
5. Livestock Policy (2020).

Key Acts and Policies:

1. Livestock Protection and Sustainability Act, 2024:
This act focuses on safeguarding livestock from adverse conditions, including drought, and promoting
sustainable practices to alleviate the impact on farmers.

2. Livestock Bill, 2024:

This bill introduces comprehensive regulations for livestock farming, including registration and licensing,
animal welfare guidelines, disease control measures, and provisions for environmental sustainability.

3. Animal Diseases Act:

This Act provides for the control and prevention of animal diseases, including powers to prohibit the use
of certain vaccines or drugs, and the ability to search and arrest individuals suspected of offenses.

4. Crop Production and Livestock Act:

This act regulates livestock keeping and grazing on agricultural land, including provisions for regulating
numbers and kinds of livestock, castration, licensing of breeding livestock, and grazing fees.

5. Livestock Policy (Sessional Paper No. 3 of 2020):

This policy outlines broad objectives for livestock development, focusing on food and nutrition security,
improved livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and promoting social inclusion.

6. Veterinary Policy (Sessional Paper No. 2 of 2020):

This policy addresses the delivery of veterinary services, including animal health, welfare, and food
safety.

Key Areas Covered by Legislation:

 Regulation and Licensing:

The Livestock Bill (2024) requires registration and licensing of farms to improve traceability and
accountability in the livestock sector.

 Animal Welfare:

The Livestock Bill and the Animal Diseases Act address animal welfare, including care, treatment, and
mandatory veterinary check-ups and vaccinations.

 Disease Control:

The legislation mandates regular disease monitoring, reporting, and the implementation of biosecurity
measures on farms.

 Environmental Sustainability:

The Livestock Bill includes provisions for sustainable practices, recognizing the impact of livestock
farming on the environment.

 Breeding and Genetic Resources:

The Livestock Breeding Regulations, 2023 outlines guidelines for breeding practices, including the
development of breeding codes and the establishment of sire schemes.

 Marketing and Value Addition:

The Livestock Policy promotes investment in agribusiness, value addition, and product development.

 Research and Extension Services:

The Livestock Policy supports livestock research and extension services to facilitate innovation and
adoption of appropriate technologies.

NOTE:

A. Crop Production and Livestock Act (Chapter 321). This Act, and
Livestock Protection and Sustainability Bill, 2024.
The primary legal framework governing livestock in Kenya is the Crop
Production and Livestock Act (Chapter 321). This Act, along with the Livestock
Protection and Sustainability Bill, 2024, on Parliament's website, provides for
the regulation and control of livestock production, including areas like:-
1. Animal breeding,
2. Disease control, and
3. Grazing management.

Key aspects of the legislation include:

 Grazing Restrictions:

The Act allows for the prohibition or restriction of livestock grazing on agricultural land, and can also
mandate the reduction of livestock numbers in specific areas.

 Breeding Regulations:

It includes provisions for licensing male breeding livestock and requires male livestock to be castrated in
certain circumstances.

 Animal Identification and Tracking:

The Livestock Bill, 2024, on Kenya Law introduces measures for animal identification and tracking.

 Livestock Feeds:

The Bill establishes a Feeds Risk Data Management System and the National Livestock Feeds Reserve, on
Parliament's website.

 Animal Welfare:

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (Cap. 360), on Advocates for Animals, passed in 1963, protects
animal welfare and prohibits acts of cruelty.

 Disease Control:

The Animal Diseases Act, on Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), provides for the declaration of
areas infected with notifiable diseases.

Livestock Breeding Bureau:

The Kenya Livestock Breeding Regulations, 2023, on the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
Development establishes the Kenya Livestock Breeding Bureau for:-
  Livestock identification,
 Registration, and
 Genetic evaluation.

In addition to the Crop Production and Livestock Act, other relevant legislation
includes:
The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Act, 2013:
This Act focuses on the establishment and functions of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research
Organization.

The National Livestock Policy, 2015 - 2030:

This policy covers key issues related to livestock, including genetic resources, nutrition, feeds, and
disease control.

B. The Animal Diseases Act (Cap. 364) is a Kenyan law that deals with the control of
animal diseases.

 It outlines measures for preventing and managing diseases in various animals, including
livestock, ruminants, dogs, and captive wildlife, as well as any other animal declared by the
Minister.
 The Act provides for reporting and isolating infected animals, declaring affected areas,
restricting movement of animals and related materials, and imposing penalties for violations.

Key Provisions:
  Notification of Diseases:

Owners are required to report any suspected or actual cases of notifiable diseases to the authorities.

 Isolation and Separation:

Infected animals must be isolated from healthy animals to prevent the spread of disease.

 Movement Restrictions:

Movement of animals, animal products, feed, litter, or waste from infected areas is restricted without
proper permits.

 Quarantine:

Areas can be declared affected by a notifiable disease, leading to restrictions on movement and
activities.

 Slaughter and Disposal:

Authorities have the power to order the slaughter of infected or exposed animals and the proper
disposal of carcasses.

 Import/Export Controls:

The Act also provides for restrictions on the import and export of animals and related materials.

 Powers of Inspectors:

Inspectors have the authority to seize, destroy, or otherwise deal with animals or materials moved in
violation of the Act.

 Compensation:

The Minister may order compensation to be paid to owners of animals that are slaughtered or
destroyed due to a disease.

 Regulation Making:

The Minister and the Director of Veterinary Services have regulation-making powers to address specific
aspects of animal disease control.

 Animals Covered:

The Act applies to all stock, ruminating animals, dogs, captive wild animals, and any other animal
declared by the Minister to be subject to the Act.

 Enforcement:
The Act outlines penalties for violations, including fines, imprisonment, and confiscation of animals or
materials

C. The Livestock Bill 2024 aims to enhance the livestock sector in Kenya by establishing a
legal framework for regulation, promoting sustainable practices, and protecting farmers from
substandard services and fraud.

The bill seeks to ensure quality standards in the industry, regulate inputs and products, and invest in
research and capacity building. It also addresses concerns identified in the Livestock Bill 2019 and aims
to improve market access and animal welfare.

Key Features of the Livestock Bill 2024:

 Regulation of Livestock Industry:

The bill establishes a legal framework for regulating the livestock industry, including animal feed,
breeding, and identification.

 Protection of Farmers:

The bill aims to protect farmers from substandard services, fraudulent practices, and ensure adherence
to quality standards.

 Sustainable Practices:

The bill promotes sustainable practices to alleviate the effects of drought on livestock farmers, ensuring
long-term viability of the sector.

 Market Access and Value Addition:

The bill focuses on enhancing market access and value addition in the livestock sector, opening up new
avenues for investment and business growth.

 Research and Development:

The bill emphasizes research and innovation to drive the development of new technologies and
practices within the sector.

 Capacity Building:

The bill supports the development of capacity building in the livestock sector, including training and
professional development.

 Institutional Bodies:

The bill proposes the creation of new institutional bodies to further regulate and improve the livestock
sector, such as the Kenya Livestock Research Organisation.
Impact and Benefits:

 Improved Animal Welfare:

The bill promotes better animal welfare through enhanced veterinary services and disease
management.

 Enhanced Market Access:

The bill aims to improve market access for livestock products, benefiting agricultural businesses and
investors.

 Increased Efficiency:

The bill's provisions for quality standards, research, and innovation are expected to lead to increased
efficiency in the livestock sector.

 Economic Growth:

The bill aims to stimulate the growth of the livestock industry, contributing to economic development.

 Food Security:

The bill's focus on sustainable practices and research can contribute to increased food security in Kenya.

D.The Kenya Livestock Policy of 2020,

The Kenya Livestock Policy of 2020 outlined in Sessional Paper No. 3 of 2020, aims to:-

 Transform livestock production from subsistence to commercialization,

 Addressing challenges related to global, regional, environmental, and international issues.
 It promotes improved management of livestock, feed, and rangeland resources while fostering
social inclusion and environmental resilience.
 The policy also focuses on animal health and food safety,
 Promoting investment in agribusiness, and
 Strengthening the legal and institutional framework for livestock development.

Policy's key objectives:

 Food and Nutrition Security:

The policy aims to utilize livestock resources for food and nutrition security, contributing to improved
livelihoods.

 Commercialization of Livestock Production:

It advocates for the adoption of modern technologies and practices to shift from subsistence farming to
commercial livestock production.

 Environmental Sustainability:
The policy recognizes the impact of livestock activities on the environment and other natural resources,
promoting sustainable practices and resource management.

 Market Access and Value Addition:

It focuses on facilitating access to domestic, regional, and international markets for livestock products
and promoting value addition in the sector.

 Research and Extension:

The policy emphasizes the importance of research and extension services to support innovation and the
adoption of appropriate technologies in the livestock sector.

 Public-Private Partnerships:
It encourages collaboration and partnerships between the national and county governments, private
sector, and other stakeholders in livestock development.

 Strengthening Legal and Institutional Framework:

The policy aims to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for livestock development, including
the regulation of animal health, food safety, and market access.

 Addressing Challenges:
The policy acknowledges and addresses challenges such as climate change, diseases, and market
volatility.

 Youth Training:
The policy also recommends training the youth to ensure a seamless transition from the aging animal
keepers.

 Veterinary Services:
It classifies veterinary services as a global public good and assigns primary responsibility to the
Veterinary Authority for its governance and service delivery.

 ASAL Areas:
The policy recognizes the potential of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) in livestock production and
proposes options for their economic exploitation.

F. The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Para-

professionals Act, 2011 (Cap. 366)
The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Para-professionals Act, 2011 (Cap. 366) in Kenya is the primary
law governing the practice of veterinary medicine in the country.

It outlines:-

 The registration,
 Licensing, and
 Regulation of veterinary surgeons and para-professionals, as well as
 Provisions for animal health services and welfare.

Key aspects of the Act:

1. Establishment of the Kenya Veterinary Board:

The Act establishes the Kenya Veterinary Board, a body corporate responsible for overseeing and
regulating the veterinary profession.

2. Registration and Licensing:

The Act prohibits the practice of veterinary medicine without registration and licensing by the Kenya
Veterinary Board.

3. Animal Health Services:

The Act provides for the regulation of animal health services, including the operation of veterinary
clinics, hospitals, and laboratories.

4. Training and Qualifications:

The Act specifies the training and qualifications required for registration as a veterinary surgeon or para-
professional.

5. Disciplinary Committee:

The Act establishes a Disciplinary Committee within the Kenya Veterinary Board to handle disciplinary
matters relating to veterinary professionals.

6. Professional Conduct:

The Act sets standards for the ethical conduct of veterinary surgeons and para-professionals.
 7. Temporary Registration:

The Act allows for the temporary registration of foreign veterinary surgeons who are engaged in
providing services in underserved areas or other specific assignments.

8. Enforcement and Penalties:

The Act outlines penalties for those who violate its provisions.

Revision and Update:

The Veterinary Practice and Veterinary Medicines Bill, 2025, is currently being considered for revision
and modernization of the existing legislation