NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 9 – The Kenyan government is planning to begin exporting hundreds of thousands of live sheep to Algeria this year, targeting a multi-billion-shilling annual livestock trade deal driven by rising demand ahead of Eid al-Adha.
Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, held talks with Algeria’s ambassador to Kenya Farid Ouahid Dahmane to accelerate livestock exports and deepen agricultural trade between the two countries.
The discussions follow a recent visit by a technical delegation from Algeria that toured livestock production systems in Kenya to assess the country’s capacity to supply sheep to the North African market.
The delegation, which included officials from Algeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and representatives from the Algerian Red Meat Corporation, was hosted by Kenya’s State Department for Livestock Development. The team evaluated sheep production systems and explored potential suppliers to meet Algeria’s growing demand for live animals.
Algeria is currently implementing a government-backed livestock import programme that could require up to one million sheep, particularly to meet demand during Eid celebrations.
Kenyan officials say the programme could become an annual procurement initiative worth billions of shillings, providing a stable export market for livestock farmers, traders and producers.
Beyond sheep exports, the two countries also discussed broader agricultural cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework aimed at promoting trade among African nations.
Kenya expressed interest in importing fertilizer from Algeria to support local agriculture. In 2024, Algeria donated 16,000 metric tonnes of urea fertilizer to Kenya, and both governments are exploring long-term commercial arrangements to supply fertilizer to Kenyan farmers.
Talks also explored collaboration in livestock health through the supply of vaccines produced by the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute, as well as the export of Kenyan dairy products, processed tea, mango products, avocado and macadamia.
Algeria also signalled interest in supporting agricultural development in Kenya’s arid regions by supplying date palm seedlings for cultivation in counties such as Wajir and Garissa.
Officials from both countries say the engagement marks a shift from negotiations to implementation, with the livestock export programme expected to strengthen trade ties and boost Kenya’s livestock export earnings in the coming years.
