De Heus Animal Nutrition has officially inaugurated a state-of-the-art animal feed production facility in Athi River, Machakos County, Kenya, marking a major private-sector investment in the country’s agricultural landscape. The feed mill, built at a cost of KES 3 billion (approximately USD 23 million), has an annual production capacity of 240,000 metric tonnes, positioning it as one of the most significant animal nutrition facilities in the region.
The facility’s construction drew on expertise from De Heus units across Africa and incorporated significant local workforce involvement, enabling the transfer of specialised skills to Kenyan teams. It will produce high-quality feed for poultry, pigs and cattle, addressing longstanding challenges related to feed availability and quality that have historically constrained livestock productivity.
De Heus Kenya’s General Manager, Wiehan Visagie, highlighted the project’s contribution to employment and farmer support, noting that the new plant will create around 280 direct jobs and boost the company’s ambitions to become the leading animal nutrition supplier in Kenya, with 35 outlets nationwide offering direct farm support.
The project also reflects De Heus’s broader strategy in Africa, coming alongside recent feed factory openings in Uganda and expansion plans in Ivory Coast and other East African markets. The company emphasises its commitment to sustainable, locally tailored solutions to enhance productivity, food security and economic growth within the agricultural sector.
Chairman Co de Heus reinforced the company’s mission to empower farmers by combining global expertise with local understanding, aiming to elevate livestock farming outcomes and strengthen regional agricultural value chains.