H.E. President Dr. William Samoei Ruto graced the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Summit 2026 at the Jamhuri Park ASK Showgrounds in Nairobi, where the Government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Kenya’s agricultural sector and building on the gains made in recent years. A key highlight of the Summit was the participation of Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre (KAGRC) Managing Director, Dr. Benadatte J. Misoi, who delivered a keynote address during the Breeding and Genetics breakout session held on 8 October 2026. The session, themed “Improved Genetics for Resilience and Sustainable Livestock Productivity,” explored the critical role of appropriate livestock breeding in enhancing productivity, building resilience and improving farmers’ livelihoods. In her keynote address, Dr. Misoi posed a fundamental question to the livestock breeding sector: “What are genetic producers doing to ensure that farmers get the right genetics for their environment, production system and economic capacity?” She emphasized the need to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to livestock breeding and instead promote breeding solutions tailored to farmers’ specific environments, production objectives and financial capacities. She noted that matching the right genetics to the right production system is essential for improving animal performance, optimizing available resources and ensuring better returns for livestock farmers. The session brought together key players in Kenya’s livestock breeding and dairy industries, including Stephen Juma, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Livestock Breeders Association (KLBA); Harun Baiya of Hemlong Dairy Ltd; Japheth Chemeng’en, Chairman of Tanykina Dairy; Dr. Leonida Osoro of the Directorate of Veterinary Services – Animal Breeding and Reproductive Services; and Ole Sinkeet Samuel, Chairman of the Kajiado Sahiwal Cattle Society. Their participation provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on advancing appropriate breeding practices and strengthening collaboration across the livestock value chain. Through its mandate of conserving, improving and distributing quality animal genetic resources, KAGRC continues to support livestock farmers with appropriate breeding solutions that enhance productivity, strengthen resilience and contribute to sustainable livestock development. By promoting the use of suitable genetics and modern breeding technologies, the Centre seeks to help farmers achieve improved production outcomes while making the most of their available resources. KAGRC’s participation in the Summit reaffirmed its commitment to advancing livestock breed improvement as a key pillar of agricultural transformation, food security and improved livelihoods. These efforts align with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which places emphasis on agricultural productivity, increased farmer incomes and inclusive economic growth. As Kenya continues to transform its agricultural and food systems, the Centre remains focused on ensuring that farmers have access to quality animal genetic resources suited to their needs, helping build a more productive, resilient and competitive livestock sector.