Year: 2026
Grant: £5,000
Evans Kibaara and Rosalyne Kendi Muthamaki
Muruti Group, and Tharaka University, Kenya
This is a capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening animal welfare knowledge and practical skills among key actors in Kenya’s pig value chain, including farmers, transporters, slaughter operators, animal health professionals, and regulatory authorities. The forum addresses critical welfare gaps that contribute to animal suffering.
Despite the growing pig sector in Kenya, many stakeholders have limited access to structured training on humane handling, transport standards, housing systems, and slaughter practices. This forum will provide evidence-based training aligned with national animal welfare legislation and internationally recognized principles such as the Five Freedoms. Through expert presentations, practical demonstrations, participatory discussions, and case-based learning, participants will gain hands-on knowledge on humane pig handling, proper housing, feeding, and disease prevention practices, as well as fitness for transport assessment and humane loading/unloading, and humane restraint and stunning methods at slaughter.
The forum is designed not only to increase knowledge but also to catalyse behaviour change across the entire value chain. By bringing together actors who often operate independently, the event will strengthen coordination, promote shared responsibility, and create a unified approach to improving welfare outcomes. Participants will leave with actionable commitments and practical strategies that can be immediately implemented within their operations.
The wider benefits of this initiative extend beyond individual participants. Improved pig welfare contributes to better productivity, enhanced food safety, increased consumer confidence, and improved access to formal and export markets. By building local capacity and fostering a culture of humane and sustainable production, the forum will support long-term systemic improvement in animal welfare standards within Kenya’s pig sector. Through knowledge transfer, stakeholder engagement, and practical implementation strategies, this project aims to create measurable and sustainable improvements in pig welfare across the value chain.