Mutahi Kagwe Allows Kenyans To Eat Water Buffalo Meat

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has announced that the domesticated water buffalo has been classified as a food animal.

A food animal is an animal that is raised for its meat, milk, or eggs. The practice of raising food animals is called animal husbandry.

Mutahi, in a gazette notice dated January 31, noted that the decision is in accordance with Section 2 of the Meat Control Act. This section defines "meat" as "any portion of an animal which is intended for human consumption, whether fresh, chilled or frozen or otherwise processed by any means whatsoever or included in any article of food for human consumption."

This definition is crucial for enforcing the Meat Control Act, as it establishes what products fall under the regulations regarding inspection, handling, and sale of meat for human consumption. 

“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,” reads part of the notice.

Water buffalo meat is fit for human consumption. It is commonly eaten in many countries, including India, Pakistan, Thailand, the Philippines, Egypt, and Italy.

Buffalo meat is leaner than beef, with lower fat and cholesterol levels, making it a healthier alternative. It is also rich in protein, iron, and essential nutrients. In some places, it is marketed as premium or speciality meat, particularly for making sausages, burgers, and traditional dishes.

A domesticated water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a large bovine species that has been tamed and bred by humans for agricultural and commercial purposes. It is distinct from its wild counterpart, the wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee), which is endangered and found in limited regions of South Asia.

Key Characteristics of Domesticated Water Buffalo:

There are two main types of water buffalo; the river buffalo which is found in India, Pakistan, and the Mediterranean region (e.g., Italy) and mainly used for milk production, as well as the swamp buffalo, found in Southeast Asia and China, mainly used for labour and meat.

Uses

• Milk Production: Buffalo milk is richer in fat and protein than cow’s milk and is used to make dairy products like mozzarella cheese.
• Meat: Buffalo meat, often called carabeef, is leaner and widely consumed in many countries.
• Labour: Used for ploughing fields, pulling carts, and other heavy farm work, particularly in rice-growing regions.
• Leather and By-products: Their hides are used for leather goods, and their dung is used as fertilizer and fuel.

Physical Traits

Domesticated water buffalos have large, stocky build with curved horns and thick, dark-coloured skin. They are adapted to hot and humid climates, often seen wallowing in mud or water to cool down.

Both the domesticated and wild water buffalo have grey to black bodies with off-white “socks” and one or two white chevrons on the neck, though domesticated buffalo often display more white markings.

Their horns curve backwards in a crescent shape in both sexes. The record horn length is just under 2 meters (6.6 feet)—the longest among cattle or any other bovid—although, in domesticated forms, the horns are shorter or sometimes absent.

A single offspring is born after a gestation period of 10 to 11 months. The lifespan of a domesticated water buffalo can reach up to 40 years, whereas the wild form has a shorter lifespan, even in captivity.

Nonetheless, the animals have been integral to human societies for thousands of years, especially in Asia, where they remain essential to rural economies and farming. Research shows that there are 74 breeds of domesticated water buffalo, with a total population of approximately 165 million, while only a small number of wild water buffalo remain.

Mutahi Kagwe's directive follows the declaration of donkeys as meat animals on August 26, 1999, by the then Minister of Agriculture, Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, through Legal Notice No. 146. However, large-scale donkey slaughter for their meat and skins was later banned in Kenya due to a decline in the donkey population.

According to The Conversation, the global demand for donkey skins and meat is primarily driven by Chinese markets. In China, donkey meat and skins are used to make snacks, beauty products, sex stimulants, anti-ageing products, and a traditional medicine called ejiao, which is made by extracting gelatin from boiled donkey hides and is believed to enhance blood circulation, improve health, and boost vitality.