Global animal nutrition company De Heus Kenya is set 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, marking one of the largest recent private-sector investments in Kenya’s livestock and agribusiness sector.
The new factory is expected to strengthen local feed supply, enhance quality and consistency, create employment opportunities, and support national efforts toward food security and industrial growth.
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.
Speaking ahead of the launch, De Heus Kenya Managing Director Wiehan Visagie said the facility reflects the company’s long-term commitment to Kenya’s agricultural transformation.
“This factory is about building reliable systems for farmers,” Mr. Visagie said. “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 Athi River plant will have an initial annual production capacity of 200,000 metric tonnes, expandable to 260,000 metric tonnes, positioning it among the largest feed mills in East Africa. 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, yet productivity remains below potential. Feed costs account for up to 70 percent of total livestock production expenses, making feed quality and availability a critical determinant of farm performance.
By producing feed locally, De Heus Kenya aims to shorten supply chains, improve traceability, and tailor nutrition solutions to Kenyan farming systems—helping farmers achieve more consistent results while reducing exposure to global supply disruptions.
The Athi River facility is projected 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. These services are designed to help farmers translate improved feed quality into measurable productivity gains.
Founded in 1911 in the Netherlands, De Heus Animal Nutrition operates more than 86 production facilities worldwide and specialises in animal nutrition. The company combines global research with local manufacturing, testing, and farmer support to strengthen livestock value chains.
The opening of the Athi River factory underscores the growing role of private-sector investment, in partnership with government, in advancing Kenya’s food security agenda, industrialisation goals, and livestock sector development.
