By Lenah Bosibori
Athi River, Kenya — Kenya’s livestock sector is set to receive a major boost as global animal nutrition company De Heus Kenya prepares to officially open a KSh 3 billion (USD 23 million) state-of-the-art animal feed manufacturing facility in Athi River on 18 February 2026.
The investment marks one of the largest recent private-sector investments in Kenya’s livestock and agribusiness sector It is also expected to strengthen local feed supply, improve feed quality and consistency, create jobs, and support Kenya’s national goals on food security and industrial growth.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Wiehan Visagie, Managing Director of De Heus Kenya, said the facility reflects the company’s long-term commitment to Kenya’s agricultural transformation.
“This factory is about building reliable systems for farmers,” said Mr Visagie. “By manufacturing feed locally, we are addressing long-standing challenges such as inconsistent quality and dependence on imports, while supporting farmers to improve productivity and profitability.”
The launch ceremony will be attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, and the Principal Secretary for Industry, Dr. Juma Mukhwana, alongside senior government officials, industry stakeholders, farmers, and development partners.
The Athi River plant will have an annual production capacity of 200,000 metric tonnes, with future expansion potential to 260,000 metric tonnes, positioning it among the largest feed mills in East Africa.
Further, it will produce a wide range of animal nutrition products, including compound feeds, concentrates, premixes, and specialty feeds for poultry, pigs, ruminants, and aquaculture.
Kenya’s livestock sector contributes an estimated 12 percent of national GDP and supports millions of livelihoods. However, productivity remains below potential, with feed costs accounting for up to 70 per cent of total livestock production expenses, making feed quality and availability critical to farm performance.
By producing feed locally, De Heus Kenya aims to shorten supply chains, improve traceability, and tailor nutrition to Kenyan farming systems, helping farmers achieve more consistent production results while reducing exposure to global supply disruptions.
Economic and Employment Impact
The Athi River facility is expected to create approximately 250 direct jobs and up to 1,000 indirect jobs across transport, logistics, packaging, distribution, and raw material supply chains.
The company also plans to source key raw materials, including maize and soybeans, from Kenyan farmers, supporting local grain markets and strengthening rural incomes.
Beyond manufacturing, De Heus Kenya provides technical advisory services to farmers, focusing on feed utilisation, ration formulation, and animal nutrition management to help farmers translate feed quality into measurable productivity gains.