1Heifer International Kenya started its operations in 1981 through the invitation by the Quakers church in Western Kenya. It started by supporting a women group with a dairy cow project in Kakamega district. Under the representation of Technoserve Kenya, the program grew gradually in its activities, covering more districts and diversified support to communities with livestock species to include dairy goats, meat goats, oxen, donkeys, beehives and camels. To date, the program has three fully operational regional offices in Nyanza, Coast and Western Kenya, and has grown to cover 6 provinces and a total of 31 districts as in Malindi, Kilifi, Kwale and Taita in Coast province; Makueni in Eastern Kenya; Kiambu, Nyandarua and Kirinyaga in Central Kenya; Homa Bay, Suba, Migori, Rachuonyo, Nyando and Nyamira in Nyanza Province; Bondo, Vihiga, Kakamega, Butere-Mumias, Busia, Siaya, Bungoma, Teso and Mount Elgon in Western Kenya;  and Nakuru, Narok, Bomet, Kericho, Nandi, Baringo, Samburu in Rift Valley province. In addition to the direct support to communities with livestock, Heifer Kenya is currently supporting communities to initiate livestock enterprises including milk, meat and honey marketing; community based animal health service delivery systems and also supports private livestock service providers in the areas of animal health, extension and artificial insemination.

Year 2006/2007 witnessed continued growth of the Heifer International Kenya program in all aspects, including resources and field program operations. Heifer Kenya continued working with other relevant partners and collaborators to support resource challenged communities; who include highly vulnerable men and women, widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC’s); and people with special needs, particularly visually impaired persons. The program continued strengthening capacities of the supported families through training and provision of various livestock and livestock related services in order to contribute to the improvement of the quality of their lives.  In addition, the program also continued supporting communities to develop and strengthen market linkages so that they can be able to sell surplus livestock and livestock products.

In order to manage the rapid program growth, Heifer Kenya continued developing and strengthening capacity of staff and partners through training in various fields in order to enhance quality in program management and community economic development.

In the past ten years since incorporating the value chain systems, HPI has learnt critical lessons on economic development of the rural sector. The driving force behind adoption of newly introduced farming technologies, innovation and economic growth in the rural sector is the presence of a vibrant market place. This market place should be competitive and players have free entry and exit. Such markets see both sellers and buyers as price takers and both have full information on the quality and quantity of goods and services on demand. As a result of the lessons learnt, HPI in Kenya has had a slight paradigm shift in its approach. While the main focus has been on livestock, the approach has shifted to people and the market. The people will benefit from the livestock enterprises if they can enter into the market to sell their surplus production through value chain systems. They need a market they can compete effectively and the market that can spur 2production. They will fit into this competitive arena when they receive adequate mentoring and supportive partners.

The new shift by HPI is to support the farmers in the value chain and commercialization of their milk, meat, honey and breeding stock. The program will henceforth build capacity of farmer associations, youth groups and women groups to manage their value chain systems and commercialize their production systems. These enterprises will include agro-processing, value addition of raw materials, breeding and marketing of high quality livestock and operating of farm input supply stores.  The farmer associations will have capacity to innovate and manage their enterprises competitively to play a major role in the market. They will meet the Kenyan and ISO standards as these are gateways to the global market place. This shift will occur while not losing focus on our traditional activities of supporting farmers with livestock and training.

Heifer Project International working with its partners in the donor community, private sector, government and the standards organizations will provide catalytic services and information to link farmers and the markets.  

  • Heifer International standard statement

Heifer International is a non-profit, humanitarian organization dedicated to ending world hunger and saving the earth by providing livestock, trees, training and other resources to help poor families around the globe become self-reliant.

Since it began in 1944, Heifer has worked directly with 7 million families in more than 125 countries and in 38 U.S. states.

Animals from Heifer International provide milk, eggs, plowing power and other benefits that for families across the planet can mean improved nutrition, education for children, health care, improved housing and literally a new way of life.

What makes Heifer unique is the practice known as “passing on the gift.” Families receiving animals agree to pass on the first offspring – or an appropriate equivalent -- to another family in need, starting a chain of giving that often touches thousands of lives.

But Heifer International’s most striking qualities are its simplicity and effectiveness. In short, Heifer’s common sense approach to sustainable development works – one family at a time.