The entrance to the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) head office in Machakos County.
The Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) is working on establishing one-stop shops for meat sales across various parts of the country.
The state-owned commission, which is currently under the stewardship of the Ministry of Defence, already operates outlets in Nairobi and Machakos counties.
According to KMC’s Managing Commissioner, Major General Jattani Gula, the initiative is aimed at ensuring Kenyans have access to safe, quality meat at affordable prices.
He emphasizes that KMC’s commitment to providing clean and safe meat aligns with the requirements of the Food and Feed Safety Control Coordination Bill, 2023, which is in its final stages of approval.
Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) Managing Commissioner Major General Jattani Gula during the interview at KMC headquarters in Athi River on July 03, 2025.
In an exclusive interview with Seeds of Gold, Maj Gen Gula revealed that KMC is planning to open additional outlets in Nairobi, Kajiado, Kiambu, and Mombasa counties, before expanding to other parts of the country.
“In Machakos and Nairobi, we already have two operational meat shops — one in Athi River and another along Landhies Road in Muthurwa,” Mr Gula disclosed.
The Kenya Meat Commission runs a modernised slaughterhouse at its headquarters in Athi River, off Mombasa Road, Machakos County. The facility features an advanced abattoir, cold storage, and other modern systems.
The institution has primarily been selling its meat and meat products through franchises and distributors. However, Maj Gen Gula stated that establishing KMC-owned meat shops is intended to boost sales.
Four years after retired President Uhuru Kenyatta transferred KMC operations to the military, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have been lauded for reviving the once struggling facility.
Gula affirmed that the processor is now performing optimally, and the decision to open more shops countrywide is expected to boost the supply of meat and meat products, consequently increasing livestock farmers’ incomes as demand rises.
“Because of the success of the KMC one-stop shops already in operation, we have resolved to open more outlets in Kitengela and Rongai (Kajiado County), Thika (Kiambu County), Mtwapa and Changamwe (Mombasa County), and Likoni (Kilifi County). Ultimately, we will scale up to other parts of the country,” he explained.
The move has been informed by high sales recorded in the existing shops, with some outlets generating up to Sh1 million per day, according to Mr Gula.
Sales, particularly on Fridays and weekends, tend to surge reinforcing the need to open more outlets to meet growing consumer demand.
Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) Managing Commissioner Major General Jattani Gula (right) takes Nation Media Group (NMG) Group Managing Director and CEO Mr Geoffrey Odundo on a tour of the factory headquarters in Athi River on July 03, 2025.
The KMC factory processes prime cuts and value-added products such as sausages, smokies, African sausages popularly known as mutura, among others, as it explores the full potential of the meat industry.
With set standards that meet both local and international regulations for meat and meat products, KMC largely sources animals from pastoralists in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL).
Pastoralists significantly contribute to the meat industry, supplying cattle for beef, sheep for lamb and mutton, and goats for chevon.
Nevertheless, Mr Gula expressed concern that pastoralists incur high costs transporting their animals to the Athi River slaughterhouse. To ease this burden and ensure stable incomes for farmers, KMC is working on partnerships with county governments to establish satellite slaughterhouses.
Mombasa County, for example, already has a fully equipped slaughterhouse in Kibarani.
Several counties from North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, and Western regions have expressed interest in setting up similar satellite facilities.
Since taking over operations in 2021, KDF has transformed the government-owned slaughterhouse, which now has its sights set on exporting meat and meat products to Gulf countries.
Poor management and misuse of resources previously hindered KMC’s growth. However, the facility’s data shows it currently contributes between Sh2.1 billion and Sh2.8 billion to Kenya’s GDP annually.
In contrast, before the military takeover, KMC generated a mere Sh256 million in annual turnover, a shortfall largely attributed to unpaid farmers and over-reliance on the exchequer.
Currently, the facility slaughters an average of 300 animals per day, a significant improvement from the previous 50 per day.
Kenya Meat Commission Managing Commissioner Major General Jattani Gula (left) presents a gift to Nation Media Group Group Managing Director and CEO Mr Geoffrey Odundo at KMC headquarters in Athi River on July 03, 2025.
Gula expressed optimism that, operating at full capacity, the facility could process up to 1,000 head of cattle and 1,500 sheep and goats daily.
Meanwhile, Nation Media Group (NMG) PLC, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Department for Livestock Development, will host the 4th edition of the Kenya Meat Expo and Conference at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, from August 6 to 8, 2025.
KMC will be among the exhibitors, showcasing meat and meat products, as well as cooking technologies and master classes.
Themed ‘Driving Sustainable Growth Across the Meat Value Chain’, the annual event brings together key players in the meat and livestock sectors from both public and private institutions. Farmers will also have opportunities to network, explore new markets, and engage with experts.
NMG Group Managing Director and CEO Mr Geoffrey Odundo, has expressed the media company’s commitment to supporting the growth of the meat industry by highlighting informative insights and addressing the challenges facing the entire value chain through its platforms
