Dutch animal nutrition group De Heus has completed a US$23.2 million feed manufacturing plant in Athi River, Machakos County, aiming to reduce Kenya’s reliance on imported livestock feed and support local farmers. The facility will be officially inaugurated on February 18, 2026, local media report.
Construction of the plant began in April 2024 and took roughly a year to complete. Built at a cost of 3 billion shillings, the Athi River facility has an initial annual production capacity of 200,000 tonnes of animal feed, with the potential to expand to 260,000 tonnes. The company plans to source soybeans and maize locally, providing farmers in the region with a new market for their crops.
According to Wiehan Visagie, general manager of De Heus Kenya, the facility will produce a broad range of standard and specialized feeds for poultry, pigs, ruminants, and aquaculture. He said the initiative is designed to provide farmers with a consistent supply of high-quality feed, addressing long-standing import dependency and quality concerns, while improving livestock productivity and margins.
Kenya’s Domestic Feed Industry
Kenya’s domestic feed industry currently produces less than half of national demand, estimated at around 55 million tonnes per year, according to Ministry of Agriculture data. The country faces an annual feed deficit of roughly 33 million tonnes, largely filled through imports. By producing locally, De Heus aims to replace a portion of imported supply, capture market share, and strengthen the livestock value chain.
Poultry remains Kenya’s largest livestock segment, with more than 71 million birds recorded in 2024, followed by goats, sheep, and cattle, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The feed plant is expected to serve these major livestock sectors, supporting farmers in boosting productivity and profitability.
De Heus’ investment aligns with broader government efforts to enhance local production capacity, reduce foreign exchange outflows from imports, and stimulate agricultural value chains. By sourcing ingredients such as maize and soybeans locally, the company also contributes to rural employment and strengthens the market for smallholder farmers.
The company emphasized that the new facility will combine modern feed production technology with local expertise to produce consistent, nutrient-rich feed for multiple livestock categories. This approach is expected to help farmers achieve better growth rates, higher yields, and improved livestock health, contributing to Kenya’s food security and agribusiness development.
Experts say the project could have broader impacts on the region’s animal feed sector, encouraging other investors to expand local production and reduce import dependence, which has historically constrained Kenya’s livestock industry.
“The opening of this plant is a milestone for Kenya’s feed industry,” Visagie said. “By producing locally, we not only improve the quality and availability of feed but also provide farmers with affordable, reliable nutrition for their animals.”
The Athi River plant represents part of De Heus’ wider expansion strategy in East Africa, where demand for animal feed is growing rapidly due to increased livestock farming, rising population, and expanding agribusiness markets. With livestock products contributing significantly to the national economy, the investment is expected to generate employment opportunities, improve supply chain efficiency, and enhance food production resilience in the country.
