Kenya hands Bachuma livestock export hub to private investor
The Bachuma facility will support livestock traceability, disease surveillance and export certification while creating opportunities for farmers and investors across Kenya’s livestock value chain.
KENYA – Kenya’s Taita-Taveta County has handed over the Bachuma Livestock Export Processing Zone (LEPZ) to Blue Mountain Meat and Livestock Limited, opening a new phase in the operationalisation of the Bachuma Livestock Quarantine Station (BLQS).
The facility was conceived under Vision 2030 to strengthen Kenya’s livestock export capacity. Construction began in 2015 but the project faced prolonged delays. Government plans now position Bachuma as a facility for livestock quarantine, disease surveillance, traceability and veterinary certification in line with international animal-health requirements.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said collaboration between the national government, county government and private sector would create opportunities for farmers, traders and investors while strengthening Kenya’s access to international livestock markets.
Officials said an offtake arrangement could absorb up to 100,000 cattle annually, while a separate order for goats and sheep from South African buyers was valued at about Kes 2 billion. The overall potential of the facility has been estimated at nearly Kes 30 billion.
The government also plans to register 15,000 farmers under the County Livestock Investment Company model to provide a structured supply of animals for export.
Farmers will contribute 30% of the Ksh10,000 shareholding cost, equivalent to Kes 3,000, while the national government will contribute the remaining Kes 7,000.
The model is intended to give farmers ownership stakes in livestock aggregation and access to export markets, with returns potentially distributed through dividends or bonuses.
Kagwe also launched the Animal Identification and Tracing system, known as AniTrac, at the event.
The digital system is designed to strengthen livestock traceability, support disease surveillance and help combat livestock theft. It will also support compliance with animal-health requirements in international export markets.
The government has previously identified livestock quarantine and certification as important requirements for restoring and expanding access to overseas markets, including destinations in the Middle East.
Taita-Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime welcomed the investment and said the county would work with the investor to expand livestock processing and value addition.
“Our vision goes beyond livestock market. We want to build a complete livestock value chain that supports processing, job creation, manufacturing and industrial growth,” Mwadime said.
The Bachuma project is part of Kenya’s wider efforts to increase livestock exports and develop infrastructure supporting the livestock and leather value chains.
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