The decision by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to legalise the consumption of water buffaloes in Kenya has sparked concerns over wildlife safety in the country.
Experts have raised questions about the January 31 Gazette Notice, particularly regarding where the government plans to source the animals, given that Kenya does not currently breed domesticated water buffaloes. Speaking on Spice FM, Principal Secretary for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke explained the rationale behind the move and the government's intended approach. The idea, he said, was inspired by President William Ruto's state visit to India in December 2024, where Kenya sought a partnership to boost its dairy sector. "We went to form a partnership, and the rime Minister Narendra Modi told the President, 'If you can bring your team, we can partner and help you guys transform your dairy.' We then went to India, which is the biggest producer of quality dairy in the world.
We do about 5.4 billion liters a year, and India now has almost 300 billion liters," Mueke explained. For two weeks, the delegation from Kenya studied India's domesticated water buffaloes, a species that plays a major role in the country's dairy industry.
According to Mueke, the team examined the buffalo's potential nutritional benefits, economic impact, and feasibility for introduction into the Kenyan market. "We learned about their meat.
