The Livestock Bill, 2024
Status Timeline
Proposed
Active now
Public Review
Pending
Debate
Pending
Executive
Pending
Final
Pending
New Livestock Regulatory Authority Established
Section 8 establishes the Livestock Inputs and Products Regulatory Authority. This corporate body is tasked with regulating the production, manufacture, import, export, and distribution of livestock inputs and products, approving stud identification, and maintaining a national database for value chain actors.
Commercial Breeders Must Obtain a License
Under Section 83, any person engaged in commercial livestock breeding must be registered and hold a valid license issued by the Authority. Breeders are required to file returns on animal pedigree and performance, and they face offences if they use unregistered facilities.
Strict Licensing and Quality Standards for Feedstuffs
Section 93 prohibits the manufacture of animal feedstuff for sale without a valid license from the Authority. All containers of approved feedstuffs must be printed or labelled with prescribed information (Section 94), and selling feedstuff with deleterious ingredients carries severe penalties.
Up to KSh 1 Million Fine for Deleterious Feed Ingredients
Section 95 imposes a fine not exceeding KSh 1 million, imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both, for any person who sells animal feedstuff containing deleterious ingredients, which are defined as substances prohibited by regulations or present in excess of prescribed limits.
Bill No.
No. 34 of 2024
Gazette No.
Supplement No. 119
Sponsor
Kimani Ichung'wah
Background
The Livestock Bill, 2024 is designed to consolidate the management of Kenya's livestock sector, addressing gaps in research, training, input quality, and market access. By establishing specialized corporate agencies, the Bill aims to streamline livestock value chains, promote food safety of animal origin, and manage resources sustainably.
Key Amendments
The Bill amends several key statutes as specified in the Fifth Schedule:
- The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Act (Cap. 319): Deletes references to "and Livestock" to separate livestock research under the newly established Kenya Livestock Research Organisation.
- The Fertilizers and Animal Foodstuffs Act (Cap. 345): Removes provisions and definitions related to "animal foodstuffs" to consolidate feedstuff regulation under the new Livestock Inputs and Products Regulatory Authority.
- The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Para-professionals Act (Cap. 366): Deletes redundant regulatory overlaps.
Additionally, the Fourth Schedule revokes several existing Legal Notices, transitioning the assets and functions of the former National Livestock Development and Promotion Service, Kenya Leather Development Council, Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre, and Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council to new entities.
New Obligations
- Licensing for Breeders: Commercial animal breeders must apply to the Authority for registration and licensing (Section 83). They must also attach approved identification codes, such as ear tags, tattoos, or electronic transponders, to breeding animals (Section 87).
- Feedstuff Manufacturing: Anyone importing, manufacturing, compounding, or selling animal feedstuffs must ensure products conform to prescribed standards and possess a valid manufacturing license (Sections 92, 93).
- Beekeeping Registration: Under Section 97, regulations will govern the registration of bee keepers, branding of beehives, and disposal of bees and honeycombs.
- Reproductive Service Centres: Operators of reproductive and genetics technology service centres must register with the Authority (Section 90).
Penalties
- Obstructing Inspectors: Hindering a compliance officer, failing to comply with inspections, or impersonating an inspector under Section 15(6) carries a fine of up to KSh 50,000, imprisonment for up to three months, or both.
- Animal Identification Violations: Altering, defacing, or removing assigned animal identification codes, or branding animals illegally under Section 88, carries a fine of up to KSh 100,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.
- Non-compliant Feedstuffs: Importing, manufacturing, or selling feedstuff that fails to meet standards under Section 92(3) results in a fine up to KSh 500,000, imprisonment up to twelve months, or both.
- Deleterious Feed Ingredients: Selling feedstuff with prohibited or excessive deleterious substances under Section 95 carries a fine of up to KSh 1 million, imprisonment up to two years, or both.
- General Penalty: Any offence committed under this Act where no specific penalty is provided carries a fine of up to KSh 500,000, imprisonment up to one year, or both (Section 98).
- Disclosure of Interest: Members of agency boards who fail to disclose personal conflicts of interest commit an offence and are liable to a fine not exceeding KSh 200,000 (Third Schedule).
Transitional Provisions
- Staff Absorption: Current employees of dissolved or transitioned former agencies will be absorbed by the newly established agencies on equivalent or improved terms of service (Section 102).
- Assets and Liabilities: All property, assets, liabilities, and existing contracts of former agencies are legally transferred to their corresponding successor agencies (Section 105).
- Licences and Permits: Any license or permit issued by a former agency that was valid immediately before the commencement of this Act will remain in force for its unexpired period (Section 108).
Gazettement
The Livestock Bill, 2026 was published in Kenya Gazette No. 111.