This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
Published on September 20, 2019, a survey by World Animal Protection (WAP) revealed that 92.6% of Kenyans prefer chicken on their dinner tables, surpassing other types of meat.
The survey, titled Evaluate Consumer’s Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices around sourcing and consumption of meat products, was conducted between June and August 2019. It found that Kenyan consumers are increasingly becoming sensitive about where and how their meat is sourced, as well as animal welfare practices in places where their meat is sourced from.
According to Victor Yamo, campaigns manager-animals in farming at WAP, meat consumers place a high premium on meat that is produced without chemicals and is safely transported to the market for slaughter. He noted that 76.4% of Kenyans link the use of antibiotics in animals to poor human health and diseases.
The study found that consumption of beef came second at 84.7%, followed by fish at 79.4%, and goat meat at 75.7%. Rabbit was the least preferred meat, with only 21.4% of Kenyans preferring it over other meats.
When it comes to sources of meat and meat products, the majority of Kenyans said they bought from butcheries (64.7%), followed by supermarkets (23.3%), and farms (4.2%).
Dr. Yamo attributed the preference for chicken to the growing realization of its health benefits compared to red meat. He said, “Chicken is white meat and studies show it is healthier compared to red meat. As more people learn the health benefits of white meat, there will be more demand for chicken.”
