To RSVP or for more information, please contact:
Nancy Mukuwa at or +254 722 201 233
Michelle Geis Wallace at or +254 711 326 770
***MEDIA BRIEFING***
INATTENTION TO LIVESTOCK EXPORTS COSTS KENYA BILLIONS
March 8, 2016
NAIROBI SAFARI CLUB HOTEL
Room: Nyambene; 3rd Floor
10:00 am – 11:00 am, Tea provided
Despite Kenya’s overall economic dominance in East Africa, its livestock keepers consistently surrender billions of dollars every year to Kenya’s neighbors—including Somalia and Ethiopia—in lost livestock export opportunities. In 2014, Kenya only exported 200,000 heads of cattle, while Somalia exported 4.5 million and Ethiopia 1.9 million.
A high level forum convened by Kenya Markets Trust (KMT) last week brought together—for the first time—government; regulators; meat producers, processors, exporters; and financial institutions—to explore the barriers that prevent Kenyan livestock market actors from reaching live animal and meat export levels seen elsewhere in the region. The forum’s discussions charted a clear path forward for the meat industry.
On Tuesday, March 8, select experts from the public and private sector invite you to a media briefing to discuss some of the key outcomes from the forum and how some 10 million Kenyans, most of them poor can earn far more income from their 45 million livestock. Questions to be addressed will include among others:
· What are the barriers holding Kenya back from taking advantage of value added meat exports?
· How can the Kenyan government negotiate agreements with trading partners, including Middle Eastern countries?
· How can Kenya satisfy international market standards for meat safety and quality?
· How do we maintain a consistent supply of meat products for domestic and export markets when farmers are so fragmented?
· What can we do to secure investments that build a thriving market? Are Kenyan financial firms committed to supporting the sector?
· How do pastoralists maintain their traditional livestock culture while casually tapping into commercial opportunities?
WHO: / Covened by Kenya Markets TrustWelcome by Eric Momanyi, Policy Analysis, Research, Communications and Knowledge Director, KMT
Moderator: Ali Hassan, Livestock Director, KMT
Speakers include:
· Bonaya Bakata, Director, Neema Livestock Slaughtering & Investment Limited (NLSIC)
· Dubat Ali Chairman, Kenya Livestock Marketing Council (KLMC)
· Naisula Lesuuda, Nominated Senator, Samburu County
· William Wahome, Meat Exporter
WHERE: / NAIROBI SAFARI CLUB HOTEL; Room: Nyambene, 3rd Floor
WHEN: / March 8, 2015
10:00 am – 11:00 am
RSVP: / Please RSVP by Monday, March 7 to Nancy Mukuwa at or .
About Kenya Markets Trust
Kenya Markets Trust is a Kenyan organization that works in partnership with the private sector; county & national governments; Associations; Local and Internationals Partnersto unleash large scale, sustainable market growth by changing the underlying incentives, capacities and rules that shape how market systems work.
We focus on market systems and value chains as these are the main mechanisms through which wealth is created and growth occurs. Our long-term goal is to deliver large scale, systemic change in selected markets that benefits all players including small businesses, larger firms, investors, producers and consumers, and the country at large.
To achieve this, we identify markets with high growth potential but which are saddled with systemic constraints. Working with key market actors, policy makers and other stakeholders, we address these constraints to improve competitiveness, efficiency and inclusiveness.
As a result, we hope to grow the range of market opportunities, support competitiveness in these sectors, ultimately creating a market system that is profitable to investors, improves incomes for suppliers and is beneficial to consumers.