Kenya has come up with the Animal Identification and Traceability Bill (ANITRAC, 2026) that will broaden the country’s regional and international animal market products share once passed by parliament.

The proposed legislation, according to Deputy Director Veterinary Services Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Jane Njuguna, will unlock the market with a transition towards data driven economy anchored on technology, youth empowerment and strict international standards.

Dr Njuguna disclosed that the system will curb cattle theft and improve animal health management as every animal will have a tag with a microchip. He explained that, when scanned, the system will display the owner’s name, the animal’s weight, date of birth, milk, meat or egg production levels and vaccination records.

ANITRAC is a platform developed by the Ministry of Agriculture to track animals from birth to slaughter. Although its pilot phase was officially launched on May 22, 2025, full implementation is scheduled for next month.

The digital livestock identification and traceability system is expected to help curb theft, monitor health and improve food safety. Using RFID tags, it tracks animal movements and links ownership, aimed at enhancing local and international trade.

The project will be preceded with a 50,000 cattle pilot in Laikipia.

Speaking during a public participation forum in Nakuru on the bill, the deputy director explained that the introduction of ANITRAC is aligned with President William Ruto’s commitment to modernising the sector through technology and data-driven approaches.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on the proposed legislative framework and gather input on its provisions. It is part of an inclusive process aimed at ensuring that the Bill reflects diverse perspectives and addresses pertinent issues effectively.

Dr Njuguna clarified that larger animals such as cows, camels, horses and donkeys among others will be allocated by the National Registrar in charge of ANITRAC, while smaller animals including poultry will be identified by batch number depending on when they were born or hatched.

“The ANTITRAC system is geared towards strengthening animal health management and control epizootics, which severely impacts African livestock systems. The traceability system will enable better monitoring and optimisation of interventions to boost local livestock productivity, especially in milk and meat sectors,” indicated the official.

She further elaborated: “This will make marketing easier and help improve animal prices, thereby increasing farmers’ profits,”

Spearheaded by the directorate of veterinary services, the initiative aims to revolutionize the way animals are identified, tracked and managed across the country. The programme aims at providing a single source of animal identification, registration, traceability and tracking.

According to Dr Njuguna, the system will also ensure the safety of animal products, boost consumer confidence and enhance the country’s disease control and prevention capabilities.

By providing real-time data on animal movement and health status, ANITRAC is expected to significantly improve the efficiency of livestock management practices, inform policy formulation and support livestock commercialization efforts.

Dr Njuguna emphasised that the ANTITRAC system will facilitate market transactions and increase the value of animals, benefiting breeders, while also noting that although demand for animal products is high, low productivity continues to hold back the sector.

Kenya is eager to capture a larger share of Africa’s meat market. In February, the Kenya Meat and Livestock Exporters Council announced plans to target Libya and Nigeria as new export destinations.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Dairy Board adopted a 10-year roadmap in 2023 to nearly double milk output to 10 million tonnes by 2033.

Kenya’s livestock sub-sector contributes 42 per cent of the agricultural sector output, and 12 per cent to the national economy while accounting for 30 per cent of total agricultural products.

Currently, only 4 per cent of beef production meets export standards, restricting access to premium global markets. To unlock the export market, the livestock sub-sector is undergoing a digital shift that will ensure data availability to strengthen production standards.

While noting that ANITRAC-enabled identification was in line with international traceability standards for animal products Njuguna announced that moving forward, exporting animals to international markets must meet traceability requirements.

The deputy director pointed out that the shift to digital is not just a technological upgrade but a complete redefinition of veterinary practice, requiring new competencies in data, remote services and real-time decision-making.

Dr Njuguna pointed out that the launch of ANITRAC is a transformative step for the agricultural and livestock sectors that will help stakeholders in the livestock sector monitor animal health, trace the origin of animal products and quickly respond to disease outbreaks.

This will support international trade by aligning with global standards for animal product traceability.

Stakeholders in the livestock value chain, including farmers, veterinary officers and traders, are expected to benefit from increased transparency and streamlined operations,” noted the deputy director.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Jane Ngugi and Dennis Rasto