This archive report was first published on 26 October 2019.
Urban livestock farming is on the rise in Kenya, with over 1.8 million households in urban and peri-urban areas keeping animals such as goats, sheep, pigs, poultry, rabbits, and dairy cows. This trend is expected to grow, with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation projecting that the number of households keeping animals will reach six million by 2050.
The growth of urban livestock farming is supported by local administrations changing their strategy from prohibiting to promoting urban agriculture. For example, the 2014 Nairobi City County Urban Agriculture Promotion and Regulation Bill has been emulated by other devolved units.
However, urban livestock farming comes with its challenges, including space constraints, waste management, and environmental nuisance. To overcome these challenges, farmers can consider using technology such as cage-layer systems, zero-grazing, and integrated fish/poultry or poultry/goat systems.
Animal waste can also be converted into a valuable resource through composting or biogas technology. This not only reduces odour but also provides a source of bio-slurry fertiliser and biogas for household cooking and heating.
Regular cleaning and disinfection of animal houses, as well as proper disposal of dead animals, are also essential to prevent public health risks and environmental nuisance. Farmers should also observe county government regulations, public health, veterinary, and National Environment Management Authority regulations.
Some key regulations to observe include prohibiting free-range rearing of pigs due to the risk of African swine fever, culling animals that attack people, and reducing odour through biogas technology and composting.
