President Uhuru Kenyatta lauded the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) for revitalizing the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) during a May 2021 ceremony in Athi River, Machakos County, emphasizing the government's role in stabilizing a sector critical to millions of Kenyans.
The President noted the Ministry of Defence's management of KMC created economies of scale, ensured consistent demand, and enhanced efficiency. He criticized past payment delays that left some farmers waiting up to four years for compensation, urging KDF to maintain a 72-hour payment pledge for livestock deliveries.
"The sector is the source of livelihood for over half the population, and market forces alone have not met expectations, especially during droughts," Kenyatta stated. He called for prioritizing the revival of Kibarani abattoir and Shimanzi meat depot to serve the coastal region while promoting regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
KDF Chief General Robert Kibochi affirmed the commission's revival as a national priority, alongside Machakos Governor Dr. Alfred Mutua and Defence CS Dr. Monica Juma. The event also featured KMC's Board Chairman Lt. Gen (Rtd) Joseph Kasaon and Managing Director Brigadier James Githanga.
The meat processor, transferred to the Ministry of Defence in September 2020, now serves institutions like Kenya Prisons and Kenya Police Service Training Colleges. The President encouraged local tanneries to utilize KMC's hide and skin production while expanding export opportunities through AfCFTA.
