Dr. Christopher Wanga, EBS, Director of Livestock Policy Research and Regulations, presided over the 62nd AHITI Kabete Graduation Ceremony held on 31st October 2025 on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, EBS.
Dr. Wanga underscored the central role AHITI Kabete plays in developing critical human resources for the livestock sector and challenged the Institute to leverage its immense capacity in driving the BETA Agenda for Dairy, Meat, and Leather development value chains.
He further emphasized the key role AHITI graduates play in advancing the pillars of Agricultural Transformation, Universal Health Coverage, the Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy, MSME Development, and Housing.
Highlighting the Institute’s production potential, he noted that AHITI Kabete plans to produce at least 576,000 quality shoe soles annually once the sole-moulding equipment becomes fully operational translating to 172.8M in revenue.
The Institute, as the first tenant in Kenanie, aims to mop up all hides and skins, tan them into leather, and produce a wide range of leather goods, including 1,920,000 belts, 12,000 footballs, 4,800 laptop bags, 4,800 document folders, 12,000 ladies’ purses, 48,000 key cases, 24,000 shave kits, 36,000 dog muzzles, 240,000 dog collars, 48,000 wallets, 48,000 card cases, and 24,000 gloves annually. This initiative has the potential to create employment opportunities for atleast 100 Diploma and Certificate graduates in leather technology every year to work in the tannery and workshop.
Considering one production line, the Institute can produce shoes and generate revenue of Ksh 60.5 million. Additionally, the Institute’s tannery, which has the capacity to tan 120 hides per month, can earn approximately Ksh 11.8 million annually.
Dr. Wanga also pledged to forward AHITI Kabete’s petition to the relevant authorities, which includes:
- a) Re-allocation of 200 acres of land at Ngong Veterinary Farm, following the previous allocation of 250 acres to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). The proposed land will be used for developing demonstration plots, establishing model training facilities stocked with animals, producing and distributing breeding materials to livestock keepers, fodder production, and generating A-in-A.
- b) Support for high-speed internet connectivity through the laying of a fibre-optic cable to enhance the Institute’s digital infrastructure.
- c) The Institute also requires finishing equipment for tanning including (plates, shaving, staking, glazing, toggoling, roller-coater and leather measuring machines), clicking machine dies/knives, moulds for insole moulding machine for back-to-school shoes, and a fully operational CAD machine.
In his remarks, Dr. Wanga congratulated the Institute for being ranked number one nationally by TVETA in collaboration, research, and innovation. He noted that AHITI Kabete currently partners with 51 organizations, which contribute significantly to the training programs.
The Institute is also training the second cohort of Burundian students through a bilateral technical cooperation arrangement, positioning it as a leading regional hub for livestock training. AHITI Kabete targets to maintain at least 1,500 students annually, and thus, requires enhanced funding to expand its training facilities.
Dr. Wanga encouraged the graduates to seize the vast opportunities in the livestock sector, both nationally and globally.
During the ceremony, a total of 306 graduates were awarded qualifications as follows:
- i) Diploma Level – 102 Graduates:
- Sixty-five (65) in Animal Health and Production
- Twenty (20) in Animal Health and Range Management
- Seventeen (17) in Leather Technology
- ii) Certificate Level – 204 Graduates:
- Ninety-eight (98) in Animal Health and Production
- Fifty-seven (57) in Animal Health and Range Management
- Forty-three (43) in Upgrading to Animal Health
- Six (6) in Footwear Design and Technology