De Heus Animal Nutrition Kenya, the local arm of the Dutch feed milling giant, is poised for a significant breakthrough with the nearing completion of its raw material warehouse. This facility is a crucial component of the company’s ambitious plan to establish its first dedicated animal feed plant in Kenya, representing a KES 3 billion (US$23 million) investment located near Athi River.
With the warehouse expected to be completed in the coming weeks, De Heus is enhancing its capacity to ensure a consistent supply of products to support Kenyan farmers. The company aims to increase its share of the country’s animal feed market from the current 2% to 3.5% by year-end, focusing on poultry, swine, and ruminant feed segments.
The new, state-of-the-art facility, anticipated to be fully operational by mid-2025, will have the capacity to produce 200,000 metric tons of premium animal feed annually, catering to the needs of the poultry, ruminant, and swine sectors. “Our commitment is to support the health and performance of your animals, helping you achieve optimal results and success in your farming endeavors,” stated Wiehan Visagie, General Manager of De Heus Kenya.
In addition to creating 250 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs, the new plant will enable De Heus to further penetrate Kenya’s growing animal feed market, projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% between 2024 and 2030, according to a report by 6Wresearch. This growth is driven by rising demand for livestock products such as milk, meat, and eggs, along with the increasing adoption of high-quality feed by farmers aiming to enhance livestock health and productivity. De Heus is particularly focused on the poultry sector as a key growth driver leading up to the plant’s launch.
