On 31 January 2025, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe signed Gazette Notice No 977 under the Meat Control Act (Cap 356), formally recognising the domesticated water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) as a food animal in Kenya.

The declaration has revived public scrutiny, with social‑media users questioning why the move is needed, its cost‑effectiveness and possible environmental impacts given the country already relies on cattle, goats and other livestock for meat and milk.

Critics on X highlighted concerns that the government may not have assessed the species’ water requirements, disease risks or potential effects on local ecosystems before issuing the notice.

Experts note Kenya currently has no domesticated water buffalo population, meaning any introduction would require breeding programmes, disease‑control measures and evaluation of suitable grazing and water resources.

The Gazette notice itself only declares the species as a food animal; it does not outline expected costs, environmental impact assessments or projected economic benefits.

Water buffalo farming elsewhere and Kenyan livestock landscape

Domesticated water buffalo are widely reared in South‑Asian countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh for both milk and meat, contrasting with the African buffalo, which remains a wild species.

Two main types exist: river buffalo, primarily for dairy production, and swamp buffalo, often used for draft work and meat in parts of Southeast Asia and China.

Kenya’s livestock sector already supplies meat and dairy through cattle, goats and other animals, prompting questions about the necessity of adding a new species.