One month into disruptions from the Middle East conflict, Kenya is losing Sh250 million weekly in livestock and meat exports to Gulf markets, with total losses exceeding Sh1 billion, Finance Minister John Mbadi told parliament.
The conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, has severely impacted Kenya's key export destinations. Speaking to the National Assembly's Finance and Planning Committee on April 4, Mbadi stated that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets account for 85% of Kenya's livestock exports and 69% of meat exports.
"Disruptions have caused losses of about Sh250 million weekly, with six approved slaughterhouses operating at very low capacity," he said. This follows earlier reports in March of around Ksh300 million weekly losses across meat and other products, as noted by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.
Domestically, excess livestock has driven down prices for nomadic pastoralists, reducing incomes for thousands of families. Kenya has 22 million cattle, 23 million sheep, 35 million goats, and 4.3 million camels, producing 607,000 tons of red meat annually against demand of 800,000 tons.
The government is seeking alternative markets in the European Union, China, the US, and other African countries, while investing in cold storage infrastructure. The Ministry of Livestock Development noted Kenya has not fully leveraged trade agreements with Arab nations.