Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe’s recent decision to classify domesticated water buffalo as a food animal has drawn the attention of the Senate, prompting calls for further scrutiny.

Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma is now seeking a statement from the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries regarding the move.

In her request, she has asked the committee to provide a comprehensive justification for the classification, ensuring that the decision adhered to due process.

The committee has been tasked with examining whether government officials followed legal and procedural steps before making the declaration.

Additionally, it must confirm if statistical data was used to support the classification and whether public participation was conducted as required by law.

Senator Mumma has further requested the committee to disclose the role of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in research that informed the declaration.

Specifically, she wants details on the research period, its findings, and the farms involved in the process.

Another key area of inquiry for the committee is the sustainability of domestic water buffalo farming in Kenya.

It has been asked to report on the current population of domesticated water buffalo in the country and provide projections for their annual population growth.

Moreover, the committee must assess the economic viability of the domesticated water buffalo as a local food source and its potential contribution to Kenya’s food security and the broader national economy.

The Agriculture CS made the declaration official through a gazette notice dated January 31, citing the Meat Control Act as the legal foundation for his decision.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 2 of the Meat Control Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development declares the domesticated water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) as a food animal for the purposes of the Act,” read part of the notice.

This classification permits water buffalo to be raised, slaughtered, and processed for meat under the provisions of the Act.

Historically, domesticated water buffalo in Kenya have been primarily used for draught and milk production in rural areas, but they will now be legally recognized as a source of meat.

It is important to distinguish between the domesticated water buffalo and the wild Cape buffalo, which is commonly seen in Kenya’s national parks and is also known as the southern savanna buffalo.

Unlike its wild counterpart, the water buffalo has been domesticated for agricultural purposes and is more commonly found in regions along the Nile and in parts of Asia.

As the debate unfolds, stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether the Agriculture Ministry’s decision withstands parliamentary scrutiny and aligns with the country’s broader food security goals.