Kenya imports about 5 billion eggs every year to bridge a production shortfall, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has revealed.
Kagwe said the country produces 4 billion eggs annually against a national demand of 9 billion, warning that the heavy reliance on imports must come to an end through increased local production.
Speaking during a visit to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) Dairy Research Centre in Msabaha, Kilifi County, the CS said Kenya can only achieve food security through research, data-driven policies, and science-based farming.
“We must stop importing eggs and start producing enough for ourselves. That requires farming guided by science not guesswork,” said CS Kagwe.
During the visit, Kagwe toured various research initiatives at the facility, including grafting of improved crop varieties and the development of nutrient-rich livestock feeds, innovations he said are crucial to boosting productivity and building climate resilience.
The CS noted that with a rapidly growing population and limited arable land, farmers must embrace soil testing, efficient input use, and precision agriculture to raise yields.
He also highlighted the ministry’s efforts to promote quality-based milk production through improved animal breeds and better husbandry practices.
Kagwe further urged young people to take up farming, observing that the average Kenyan farmer is 64 years old.
“Our young people understand technology. Let’s pass the torch to them, they are the future of modern, scientific agriculture,” he said.
He reiterated that Kenya’s agricultural transformation must be anchored on research, innovation, and evidence-based policy rather than tradition.
The CS was accompanied by KALRO Director General Dr. Eliud Kireger, Dairy Research Institute Director Dr. Samuel Mbuku, and other senior ministry officials.
