Kenya is intensifying efforts to expand its livestock and livestock product markets through the De-risking, Inclusion and Value Enhancement (DRIVE) Project. This initiative aims to boost jobs, exports, and incomes, particularly in pastoral and agropastoral regions.

• The livestock sector contributes about 12 percent of Kenya’s national GDP, with earnings rising to Sh235 billion in 2024.
• The Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) has seen financing disbursements under the DRIVE Project increase from Sh185 million to Sh852 million over the past three years.
• KDC, in partnership with Safaricom, launched KDC Mifugo Cash, a digital credit product offering unsecured loans to 5,000 pastoralists via M-PESA.
• Phyllis Kandie, Advisor on Market Linkages for Trade, emphasized better coordination across production, trade, and quality systems to open new markets.

Kenyans will experience higher salary deductions from February due to new National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contribution rates taking effect. The revised structure aims to boost long-term retirement savings, but will also reduce monthly take-home pay for employees.

• The Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) has increased to Sh9,000, and the Upper Earnings Limit (UEL) to Sh108,000.
• PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) issued a tax alert confirming the changes, which mark the final phase of a four-year transition under the NSSF Act of 2013.
• NSSF contributions remain at 12 percent of pensionable earnings, shared equally between the employee and employer, with employees eligible for tax relief on contributions up to Sh30,000 per month.