CS Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Mithika Linturi, addressing the Senate Committee
As Kenya strives for excellence in food and nutrition across the country, food safety remains the top priority. Today, CS Mithika Linturi addressed the Senate Committee in response to Senator Korir’s inquiry about the disposal of unfit meat. He detailed the stringent measures under the Meat Control Act, from ante-mortem inspections to condemnation facilities, and the repurposing of condemned carcasses into animal feed.
To uphold meat safety standards, the government rigorously enforces veterinary policies and the Animal Disease and Meat Control Acts, conducting thorough inspections from abattoirs to retail outlets. Rest assured, safeguards are in place to prevent the sale of unsafe meat.
Additionally, the CS responded to Senator Murango’s inquiry regarding the measures taken to ensure Kenya’s coffee complies with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development he said, in collaboration with state agencies and county governments, has formed a multi-agency team. This team is collecting geo-coordinates of coffee farms, compiling data via GPS and satellite, and establishing an ICT center to create comprehensive digital maps and databases for coffee production.
The AFA-Coffee Directorate will oversee the management of geo-location data, with robust measures in place to ensure accessibility and data protection.