Strengthening Capacities to Access Climate Adaptation Finance for Climate-Resilient Livestock Production Systems in Kenya

AGNES, in collaboration with the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and supported by GIZ Kenya, convened a highly successful Breakfast Meeting on private sector engagement for investment opportunities in Kenya’s livestock systems. The turnout, the depth of discussion, and the clarity of shared priorities demonstrated one thing: the future of livestock resilience in Kenya will be co-created through meaningful public–private partnerships. The meeting opened with a strong call to action from the AGNES Team Lead Dr. George Wamukoya (OGW), who reminded participants that Kenya must begin treating agriculture as a business. This sentiment set the tone for a candid discussion on why climate-resilient livestock systems require deliberate investment, innovation, and coordinated action. The breakfast discussions were centred around one pressing question: How can we make livestock resilience bankable, investable, and scalable? The conversation transitioned into a discussion that uncovered both the challenges and untapped potential: Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) through Khalif Abbey of Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET) shared that Kenya lost livestock worth KES 25.2 billion (2022–2024) due to climate-related impacts, an urgent wake-up call for joint action to de-risk the sector through collaboration between government, private sector, and development partners. The Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) represented by Mr. David Njuguna of Co-Operative bank reminded us that “banks don’t run away from agriculture — they run from how it’s packaged.” With better framing around employment creation and value chain linkages, agriculture financing can attract more capital. The CEO of KBA also acknowledged that most bankers require capacity building in this climate smart agriculture. CKL Africa (Coopers K-Brands) through it’s Country Director Mr Mucai Kunyiha emphasized that “markets are more resilient when there are more suppliers.” Therefore, the focus must be on transforming smallholders into commercial producers. Rhoda Rubaiza from Zep-Re underscored that de-risking requires building trust with farmers, yet there’s growing openness among livestock keepers to insure their herds, a promising shift in mindset. Across all perspectives, one message echoed clearly: we are not competing; we are collaborating. Because climate resilience, just like peace, is a precondition for investment. As Kenya works to build climate-smart and resilient livestock systems, these conversations are just the beginning. The private sector holds the missing link, and the momentum from this dialogue shows that the willingness to unlock it is already here.