Groundbreaking ceremony for the De Heus animal feed plant in Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya – On the 4th of April De Heus Kenya organized the groundbreaking ceremony of a new animal feed plant in Nairobi, Kenya. Located in Athi River, this facility represents the first dedicated animal feed plant in the country, marking a significant milestone for De Heus. With an annual capacity of 200,000 metric tonnes (MT), the factory is scheduled to initiate operations in the second half of 2025, serving catering to the needs of Kenya's poultry, swine, and dairy farming sectors. This initiative underscores De Heus' commitment to elevating livestock farming standards and supporting agricultural development in Kenya.
Investment commitment to quality and growth
"Our investment shows our commitment to supplying livestock farmers with high-quality animal feeds to support effective and healthy growth of the local meat, eggs, and milk industry, while helping to further develop the Kenyan agricultural sector”, stated Koen de Heus CEO of Royal De Heus.
Governmental endorsement
The ceremony, led by Jonathan Mueke, Principal Secretary for Livestock Development, underscored De Heus's profound impact on Kenya's economy and the animal feed sector. Mueke lauded the investment as a significant sign of confidence in the Kenyan economy and the firm’s growth prospects in the local animal feed industry He expressed, “We are excited by the interest and investment by De Heus Kenya in the local animal feed sector. By combining their global expertise with an understanding of Kenya's agricultural landscape, we hope to see an introduction of agricultural innovations and feed technologies for our farmers, towards meeting Kenya’s food security needs."
Regional support and economic outlook
Wavinya Ndeti, Governor of Machakos County, showed confidence in her region's potential to attract investors and foster job creation. Her support for transformative projects promises a conducive environment for growth and mutual benefit: "Machakos County is renowned as one of the best counties to do business in Kenya with transformative projects and economic assets such as the Konza Technology City and plans for the new Machakos City, as well as a set industrial development corridor here in Mavoko Sub-County. Our commitment to investors, both big and small is that our doors are open. We shall support De Heus for the mutual benefit of the county and the people of Machakos."
Future prospects
The plant is expected to create 250 direct and 1,000 indirect job opportunities, while helping to power progress in sustainable agriculture and livestock management across the agribusiness and animal feed value chains in the country With a tailored approach and support from The Netherlands, De Heus aims to empower Kenyan farmers with both feed products combined with farm management, animal health and animal nutrition advisory services leading to higher yields, more sustainable farming practises and positive impact on farming communities.
