By IP Desk
NAIROBI, Kenya (Oct. 26, 2025)
As Kenya imports nearly 5 billion eggs each year, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has raised alarm over the country’s growing dependence on foreign poultry products — some of which, he warns, may not even be real eggs.
Speaking during a recent agricultural investment forum, Kagwe said the situation reflects “a worrying case of local neglect” and called on all 47 counties to make youth-driven agribusiness a top priority to curb the unsustainable importation trend.
“We cannot be importing what we can produce — and worse, what we don’t even know if it’s real food,” Kagwe said.
“Every county must invest in its youth to make agriculture profitable and modern.”
Western Kenya: The Sleeping Poultry Giant
Counties in Western Kenya Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga, and Trans Nzoia — have the climate, land, and manpower to turn the tide.
The region produces maize, soya, and sunflower — essential raw materials for poultry feed — making it a natural hub for egg production and feed manufacturing.
Youth cooperatives and local enterprises can be supported to set up automated poultry farms, hatcheries and egg processing units to serve regional and national markets.
“If each ward in Western Kenya produced at least 100,000 eggs monthly, we could feed the entire region and export to neighbouring counties,” said Dr. Susan Wekesa, an agribusiness expert based in Bungoma.
What the Counties Should Do
Experts say the 47 counties should act jointly — but strategically — to make Kenya self-sufficient in egg production.
Here’s how:
Youth Agribusiness Grants and Incubators – County governments should fund youth cooperatives to start poultry ventures through grants and low-interest loans.
Feed and Hatchery Development – Invest in feed mills and hatcheries to lower production costs.
County Poultry Clusters – Identify county-specific strengths:
Western Kenya: Feed production and large-scale egg farming.
Central Kenya: Breeding and value addition (e.g., liquid egg products).
Coast: Poultry for tourism and export markets.
Rift Valley: Large-scale commercial farms and supply chains.
Eastern and Northern Kenya: Drought-resistant indigenous poultry systems.
Market and Cold Chain Infrastructure – Support local markets with cold storage, transport, and online trading platforms.
School Feeding Programs – Counties can purchase local eggs for school nutrition programs, giving farmers a steady market.
National Support Needed
The national government can complement county efforts by:
Enforcing strict import controls to block substandard or fake eggs.
Subsidizing animal feed and energy costs.
Partnering with technical institutions to train youth on modern poultry technologies.
Establishing an Egg Development Fund to promote production, research and innovation.
Turning Imports Into Jobs
If each county empowered 2,000 youths in poultry farming, Kenya could create over 90,000 new agribusiness jobs and save billions in foreign exchange.
“This is not just about eggs — it’s about dignity, jobs and food sovereignty,” Kagwe said. “Our youth must become the producers, not just consumers.”
A Call to Hatch a New Future
Kenya’s reliance on imported eggs — often of questionable origin — signals both a crisis and an opportunity.
If counties rise to the challenge, the humble egg could become the symbol of a new, youth-powered agricultural revolution.
