Whey streams from sixteen cheese processors across Kenya were examined to determine their suitability for downstream valorisation in a circular bioeconomy context. Samples were analysed for pH, total solids, moisture, fat, crude protein, ash and minerals, and lactose using standard AOAC methods, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and titration. Moisture ranged from 93.5 to 94.0%, total solids 6.0-6.5% (w/w), fat 0.4-1.0%, protein 0.3-1.0%, ash 0.5-0.6%, and pH 4.2 to 5.6. Mineral contents were calcium 0.016–0.019% (w/w), sodium 0.037–0.042% (w/w), potassium 0.09–0.13% (w/w), and chloride 0.037–0.039% (w/w). Lactose content ranged from 3.9 to 5.7% (w/w) across samples, with significant differences observed among whey types (p < 0.05). One-way ANOVA revealed no significant differences in overall mean composition across processors (p = 1.00), indicating broad consistency despite variations in cheese types and processing scales. However, significant differences existed among whey types for lactose, fat, protein, ash, calcium, and potassium (p < 0.05), reflecting coagulation methods (rennet vs. acid). The composition of Kenyan whey aligns with global benchmarks. It contains valuable fermentable components, especially lactose and residual proteins, making it suitable for microbial fermentation, animal feed, and other value-added applications. Standardized quality assessment and targeted pre-treatments can enhance valorisation, reducing environmental impact from disposal and supporting Kenya’s growing dairy sector, while opening new opportunities in the circular bioeconomy.

Dairy production is a priority livestock system for reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is a target of a number of GHG mitigating interventions (GHG-MI) recommendations. However, uncertainty exist regarding how smallholders are integrating these GHG-MI, which include improving feeding, breeding, health and welfare, and manure management. This study tested hypothesis that integration of GHG-MI is heterogeneous in smallholder dairy farms. A sample of 291 farms were obtained in a cross-sectional survey in rural and peri-urban wards around Nakuru city, Kenya. Frequency data on practicing a GHG-MI were subjected to Principal Component Analysis followed by Cluster Analysis to derive distinct clusters, resulting in three clusters: cluster one and two each comprising 36.8 % and cluster three 26.4 % of the farms. These were respectively labelled low (LM), average (AM) and high (HM) mitigating farms based on the number of GHG-MI frequently practiced by atleast half of the farms. The majority of the HM farms frequently practiced most of the GHG-MI and LM farms practiced the least. Out of 11 feeding practices examined, atleast 6 in 10 HM farms frequently practiced four whereas atleast 5 in 10 of AM or LM farms frequently practiced two. In examining selection for six traits, five were frequently selected by at least 8 in 10 of HM farms whereas atleast 5 in 10 of AM or LM farms only frequently selected two traits. Of seven good animal health and welfare practices examined, all were frequently practiced by atleast 6 in 10 of HM farms. Among AM and LM farms, atleast 5 in 10 practiced six good animal health and welfare. While dry-lot manure storage was only a frequent practice on AM farms, manure spreading on land was a more frequent practice across all clusters. These findings reveal that smallholder dairy farms are responsive to mitigating GHG emissions, however heterogeneity in their integration of GHG-MI warrants research to compare HM with the AM and LM farms. Feed additives and effective manure management should be entry points for extension service promoting climate-smart livestock interventions, because only a few farms used them, though are effective GHG-MI in dairy systems.

CONTEXT: Urbanization in Kenya continues to accelerate, reshaping the agricultural landscape and impacting livestock farming practices. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the spatial variation of livestock farming systems across urban, peri-urban, and rural areas in Nakuru County to assess the impact of urbanization on resource use, nutrient cycling, and livestock diversification. METHODS: A multi-stage cluster sampling method was used to interview 241 households selected from four sub- counties: Nakuru East (urban), Naivasha (urban), Njoro (peri-urban), and Kuresoi North (rural). In each sub- county, three wards were selected, with four selected roads per ward. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect data on farm size, herd size and diversity, feeding practices, manure management, and market access. RESULTS: The total herd size, including all animal species present on the farm, was lower in the urban area of Nakuru East than in all other areas (P < 0.001). However, the numbers of individual species (i.e., dairy cattle, dairy goats, and chickens) per farm did not differ among areas and were not significantly correlated to land size. On average, farmers kept 4.6 dairy cattle, 6.2 dairy goats, and 49.1 chickens if they had those species. In the urban areas of Nakuru East, land scarcity led to limited space for forage production. The other areas prioritized land use for crop production over that for forage production for their livestock. Our findings indicate high stocking rates across all areas: urban areas averaged 41.8 TLU/ha and peri-urban and rural areas averaged over 6 TLU/ha. The high stocking rates and low forage production explain the overall dependency on feed purchases. Agricultural supply stores were present in all areas, providing opportunities for feed and other input purchases. Peri-urban and rural farms relied more on compound feeds, while urban farms purchased specific energy- and protein-rich ingredients for their livestock diets. Due to the high dependency on feed purchases and small land size, farms face nutrient accumulation in the form of manure, creating risks of environmental hazards. Overall, our research reveals that urbanization has created a shift towards more intensive and market-oriented farming across all areas. SIGNIFICANCE: Understanding the interaction between urbanization and livestock farming practices is crucial for developing sustainable agricultural production and marketing strategies that can accommodate the changing landscape of urbanizing areas.

The aim of this perspective is to further the discussion on regenerating our food system, by describing our future food system (FS) vision to be a regenerative, inclusive food system (RIFS) and providing guiding principles that work within an interactive dynamic framework to achieve this vision. The five RIFS principles outlined in this paper are intended to support and guide place-based processes for regenerating our FS. These are: (1) sense of place and purpose; (2) socio-ecological design for innovation; (3) building connections; (4) fair, just and inclusive transitions; and (5) design for renewal (it is a living process). The use of the five principles are at the heart of RIFS, supporting transformative, experiential learning and guiding the actions and responsibility of all actors involved in FS transformation towards RIFS. We argue that when all these principles occur in a transformation process, this provides the fertile ground for achieving a RIFS’s vision.

Mycobacteria are a concern in camel milk due to their potential pathogenicity. This study explored the genetic characteristics of thirteen Mycobacteria isolates from camel milk collected in Isiolo County, Kenya, focusing on the identification and comparison of virulence genes. Using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and the PATRIC annotation platform, we analyzed subsystems and specialty genes to uncover functional capability and potential pathogenic mechanisms. There were significant variations observed in the number of genes assigned to key subsystems such as metabolism, protein processing, stress response, and energy, suggesting diverse metabolic and survival strategies among the strains. Notably, strains such as Mycobacterium vaccae (JACC_055) and Mycobacterium pulveris (EL_188) exhibited a higher number of genes in the metabolism and stress response subsystems, respectively, indicating enhanced metabolic potential and adaptation to harsh environments. Virulence genes were identified across the isolates with Mycobacterium heidelburgense (EL_135), Mycobacterium colombiense (EL_158), and Mycolicibacterium pulveris (EL_188) showing the highest counts (22, 22, and 16, respectively), suggesting their increased pathogenic potential. The key virulence genes including ideR, relA, mbtH, esxR, phoP, and icl, were frequently present, highlighting their essential role in Mycobacterium virulence. Unique genes in certain isolates such as fbpC and esxN in EL_135 and EL_158 isolates indicate specific adaptations for nutrient acquisition and host interaction. A comparative analysis with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. avium revealed shared virulence genes (fbpA, fbpB, icl, ideR, relA, esxH, phoP) and unique ecc genes, highlighting similarities in pathogenic mechanisms and potential for host immune manipulation. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the genetic closeness of M. colombiense and M. heidelbergense to M. tuberculosis and M. avium, implying similar virulence capabilities. These findings enhance our understanding of the genetic diversity and pathogenic potential of Mycobacterium species in camel milk, emphasizing the importance of strain-specific analysis for disease management, therapeutic development, and public health awareness.

Dairy farming in Kenya faces multiple risks that impact production performance. Risk perception is likely to differ between typical and entrepreneurial farms, and the difference likely manifests in their choice of risk coping strategies. This study examined how typical and entrepreneurial farms perceive and cope with risks in Nyandarua County - representing a more developed dairy sector, and Narok-Bomet Counties, representing a less developed dairy sector. It is assumed that typical and entrepreneurial farms perceive and cope with risks differently with entrepreneurial farms adopting sophisticated and resource intensive strategies. Using stratified sampling method, cooperatives were identified and a list of farmers selling to the cooperatives were categorized as typical if they sold up to 50 litres of milk with no increase over the last 5 years. Otherwise were entrepreneurial farmers if they consistently sold over 50 litres of milk with growth over the same period. A cross sectional survey was done across 120 farmers out of whom 56 were typical and 64 entrepreneurial where each farmer was asked to list top three severe risks and the coping strategies per risk. Data analysis used Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 23. Risk perception indices revealed that both typical and entrepreneurial farmers considered market price volatility (0.375, 0.346) the most significant risk, followed by production-related threats such as disease (0.116, 0.143), feed scarcity due to limited land (0.158, 0.078) and due to extreme weather (0.0833, 0.1016), poor genetics and reproduction (0.027, 0.094) and difficulties in accessing inputs and services (0.131, 0.125). Through Principal Component Analysis (PCA), key coping strategies to these risks were identified in typical farms to reflect reliance on modest innovations, local network and practical responses aligned with available assets. In contrast, coping strategies in entrepreneurial farms were proactive investment in technologies, innovations and partnerships.

Though using Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) can improve oestrus detection, conception and pregnancy success, thus benefit breeding program implementation, empirical evidence of their economic viability is lacking to inform investment decisions in pastoral herds. This study assessed economic viability of using OvSynch and fixed Timed Artificial Insemination (TAI) protocol in Sahiwal upgrading breeding program under two hypothetical cases of best and worst in activity-based money allocations when pastoral herds deploy either optimal or low input husbandry practices. From herd owners' assessment of milk production, best-case scenarios attain on average 10 L/cow/day with optimal husbandry and 5 L/cow/day with low input husbandry. The worst-case scenarios attain 5 L/cow/day with optimal husbandry and 1 L/cow/day with low input husbandry. Benefit- Cost Analysis (BCA) estimated Net Present Value (NPV), Benefit-Cost ratio (BCR) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) to establish economic viability of using OvSynch and TAI Protocol in pastoral breeding programs. Both best-case scenarios retuned positive NPVs (82,028 and 6,912), BCR values (1.68 and 1.08) and IRR (27.46% and 8.08%) while worst-case scenarios returned negative NPVs (-135,855 and -141,025), BCR values of below 1 (0.87 and 0.66) and IRR values below the minimum rate of returns. These economic parameters were sensitive to price changes in inputs and outputs, under both optimal and low input husbandry practices. Results indicate that using OvSynch and TAI Protocol is a profitable and economically viable investment under optimal husbandry practices but not under low input husbandry practices. By implications, use of OvSynch and TAI Protocol in Sahiwal upgrading breeding programs need be accompanied with improved husbandry practices and de-risking pastoral herd owners from price changes in input and output markets.

Various grass species with high biomass yield and low moisture demand have been introduced in the rangelands of Kenya to realize increased ruminant productivity that could not be achieved with the low quality of the indigenous grasses. However, this intervention ignores the different methane emission of the indigenous and introduced grasses, a necessary consideration for realizing increased productivity while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. This study determined in-vitro digestibility and methane emission of three indigenous grasses: Eragrostis superba (E. superba) , Cenchrus ciliaris (C. ciliaris), Enteropogon macrostachyus (E. macrostachyus) and two introduced grasses (two varieties of Chloris gayana ; Boma rhodes and Extozi rhodes. Samples of these five grasses (whole plant above ground) were collected from established pasture plots in South Eastern rangelands of Kenya. The grass samples were collected at bloom stage using one-meter square quadrats for proximate analysis and determination of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) using AOAC (1990) methods. On average, relative to the indigenous grasses, the introduced grasses were higher in crude protein (74.05 g Kg-1 dry matter (DM) vs. 52.11 g Kg-1 DM), organic matter digestibility 62.7% vs 53.6%) and in NDF (712.7 g Kg-1 DM vs. 708.0 g Kg-1 DM), metabolizable energy (16.35 vs 12.90 MJ/kg DM), methane emission (25.61 ml vs 15.93 ml) but with lower in -vitro -dry matter digestibility 54.24% vs 58.12%. Methane production positively correlated with crude protein, NDF, metabolizable energy, ADF and in-vitro organic matter digestibility. Hence, utilizing the introduced grasses to boost cattle production would achieve increased productivity but a point of concern are the higher methane emissions, not to mention the ecosystem change caused by the introduction of new species, which should affect the sustainability of the rangeland ecosystem.

The objective of this study was to examine social networks in dairy value chains (DVCs) in Kenya and understand how DVC actors’ power relationships and trust influence their behaviour regarding milk quality. We conducted a stakeholder analysis using the Net-Map tool in Laikipia, Nakuru and Nyandarua counties in Kenya. VisuaLyzer software was used to analyse the social networks. Thematic content analysis of the discussions, recorded during the mapping exercise, was undertaken using ATLAS.ti. Formal DVC had more actors and dense social networks characterised by vertical and horizontal integration, high levels of power asymmetries between actors, limited trust and short-term contractual arrangements. Informal DVC was characterised by fewer actors and less dense social networks, low levels of power asymmetries between actors and a high level of trust due to the existence of reciprocal personal relationships. Milk was perceived to be of higher quality in the formal value chain reflecting top-down enforcement of milk standards, bottom-up collective action, power asymmetries and contractual relationships. Poor milk quality management in the informal DVC underscores the need for powerful actors, e.g. regulatory agencies, and buyers such as processors, to influence other DVC actors’ behavioural change. Understanding and leveraging DVC social networks and actors’ power and addressing power asymmetries and enhancing trust between actors will increase compliance with milk quality standards. There is an urgent imperative to design policies and interventions which empower DVC actors, by providing economic incentives, enhancing their skills and knowledge and their access to infrastructure which facilitates milk quality improvement.

Bull service is the most common insemination method in pastoral herds grazing in the rangelands. To accelerate multiplication and distribution of and access to high quality Sahiwal genetics to pastoral communities, development agencies have promoted the use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) in the Kenyan rangelands. However, sustainable use of ARTs is uncertain because pastoral herd owners attach high value to bull calves of high genetic merits for breeding, which is a potential barrier to technology adoption. This study assessed preferential use of ART- bull calves among beneficiaries of the Sahiwal cattle upgrading breeding program that were utilizing OvSynch and TAI protocol in the southern rangelands of Kenya. Preferential use of bull calves was assessed in a choice experiment basing on attributes associated with potential use of bull calves. Overall, the first-choice preference was to retain the bull calves for future breeding (54%) compared to immediate selling for income (44%). This was the first-choice of pastoralists and agro pastoralists preferred unlike ranchers who preferred selling bull calves for income compared to retaining for future breeding (80% versus 20%). The preference of retaining bull calves for future breeding was higher among women compared to male respondents (59% versus 51%). Second choice preferences were sales for income (58%), breeding (29%), draft power (5%), meat production and cultural practices (3% each) and prestige (2%). Socioeconomic factors had no significant influence on preferential use of ARTs bull calves. The results indicate that high genetic merit bull calves are preferred for breeding, implying that bull calves would be retained within the pastoral herds for bull service. This presents a possible barrier to adoption of ARTs in pastoral herds for upgrading of Sahiwal cattle breed. Policy direction need to invest in Sahiwal multiplication and distribution of bull calves to pastoralists and agro pastoralists. Ranchers have low preference for retaining bull calves for breeding, so it would be best to capacitate them to invest in ARTs to multiply breeding bulls and supply to pastoralists and agro pastoralists.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a contagious viral disease to which dairy cattle are highly susceptible. An outbreak of FMD in a dairy herds can cause a drop in milk yield, increase mastitis infections, and force culling. These production losses can be substantial, but farmers undervalue the magnitude of the loss that they incur. The study quantified the association of FMD outbreaks with milk yield, mastitis incidences, and culling rates. The data was from three large-scale dairy farms with a recent history (2008 to 2018) of FMD outbreaks in a region endemic for the prevalence of serotype C of the FMD virus since the mid-1980s in the Rift valley of Kenya. A total of 507 cows were monitored for three consecutive periods of six weeks before, during, and after FMD outbreaks. Relative to the period before and after the disease outbreak, production losses were marked during the outbreak. A disease outbreak was associated with up to 4.7% of the cows drying off ( n = 24) and milk production dropped by 16.1%. The incidence of mastitis increased from 5.4% to 21.5% (OR = 3.31, CI = 2.27, 4.83) and culling rates increased from 0.59% to 3.8% (OR = 6.71, CI = 1.99, 22.58).

nature’s processes to build resilience and adaptation strategies that will enable them to cope with climate change and other future shocks. Regenerative Inclusive Food Systems evolve differently in different places, as they are specific to a particular place and the people living there.

Agricultural advisory services inform urban consumers about milk safety and quality information through diverse media channels. Communication about milk is vital in educating consumers to make informed, healthy food choices. However, knowledge gaps exist on whether the dominant message theme by media targets educating consumers. This study sought to fill these knowledge gap. Thematic content analysis of newspaper articles was used (n=215) and researcher-administered questionnaires (n=131) was used in Nairobi city. The respondents involved in the study were 131.The frequencies of text data were determined, and the dominant message themes were identified using Chi-square test statistics. The respondents rated media sources for educative value, on a Likert scale (1 to 5). Results revealed that the dominant print media message themes were innovations for enhancing good quality milk (36.7%), causes of poor-quality milk (43.7%), benefits of quality milk (10.7%), and risks of poor-quality milk (8.8%). The relative consumer trust for information disseminated by agricultural advisors through different media channels was in the order of television (20.2%), radio (19.5%), product advertisement (16.7%), social media (13.5%), newspapers (12.4%), public extension (7.5%), research by university (6.8%), and lastly extension magazines (3.4%). Consumers placed greater trust on messages disseminated through television, which in their perception was of greater educative value to them.

Nakuru County, a prime agricultural county, contributes 20% to the overall food security in Kenya. However, the county has some arid pockets where food production and agribusiness are hampered by frequent crop failures due to communities' dependence on maize. Cassava is a good alternative but a lack of knowledge of the crop's potential continues to undermine adoption. The cassava CARP used a collaboration platform to provide farmer-based research to fill the knowledge gaps on production and consumption. The project evaluated 27 sweet varieties on farmer fields actively engaging the farmers and extension agents. Five varieties for each site were multiplied and distributed to farmers. Farmers selected the varieties based on yield, taste and general preference. These cultivars were then assessed for their cyanogenic content, dry matter content and starch content. The project also addressed good agricultural practices, value addition and marketing. It trained seven postgraduate students, more than 700 farmers and 32 TVET students in production and cottage value addition. Twelve food products have been developed and cassava processing, through support to a farmers' cooperative society, was scaled up.

The ability of smallholder dairy farming systems (SHDFS) to achieve desirable lactation-curve characteristics is constrained or reduced by environmental stresses. Under stressful production environments in the tropics, the better lactation-curve characteristics in smallholder dairy farms are a result of improved dairy genetics and husbandry practices. Better husbandry practices improve animal health and welfare status, which is important to sustain SHDFS in the tropics where dairy cattle are constantly exposed to multiple environmental stresses of feed scarcity, disease infections and heat load. In this case, lactating cows in smallholder dairy farms labelled positive deviants are expected to express lactation curve characteristics differently from typical farms, regardless of the stress levels confronted. Thus, this study tested this hypothesis with Holstein–Friesian and Ayrshire cows in two milksheds in Tanzania classified them into low-and high-stress environments. A two-factor nested research design was used, with farm (positive deviant and typical) nested within the environment. Positive deviant farms were farms that performed above the population average, attaining ≥0.35 Mcal NEL/d energy balance, ≥6.32 L/cow/day milk yield, ≤1153.28 days age at first calving, ≤633.68 days calving interval and ≤12.75 per 100 animal-years at risk disease-incidence density. In this study, a total of 3262 test-day milk production records from 524 complete lactations of 397 cows in 332 farms were fitted to the Jenkins and Ferrell model to estimate lactation curve parameters. In turn, the outcome parameters a and k were used to estimate lactation curve characteristics. The lactation curve characteristic estimates proved the study hypothesis. Regardless of the stress levels, cows in positive deviant farms expressed lactation curve characteristics differently from cows managed in typical farms. The scale (a) and shape (k) parameters together with peak yield and time to peak yield indicated higher lactation performance in positive deviant farms than in typical farms under low- and high-stress environments (p < 0.05). Lactation persistency was higher in positive deviants than typical farms by 14.37 g/day and 2.33 g/day for Holstein–Friesian cows and by 9.91 g/day and 2.16 g/day for Ayrshire cows in low- and high-stress environments. Compared to cows managed in typical farms, cows in positive deviant farms attained higher lactation performance under low- and high-stress; Holstein–Friesian produced 50.2% and 36.2% more milk, respectively, while Ayrshire produced 52.4% and 46.0% more milk, respectively. The higher milk productivity in positive deviant farms can be associated with the deployment of husbandry practices that more effectively ameliorated feed scarcity, heat load and disease infections stresses, which are prevalent in tropical smallholder dairy farms.

This longitudinal study explored intra-annual variation in feed availability and the chemical composition of milk and feed resources at smallholder dairy farms in Nakuru county, Kenya. Feed and milk samples were collected for a full year, every last week of the month, from 43 purposively selected farms. Feed and milk samples were analysed for nutritional composition using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and Ekomilk milk analyser, respectively. The main basal feeds were indigenous grasses, Napier grass, maize and bean stover and maize silage, which farmers supplemented with purchased commercial concentrates and/or purchased or homemade total mixed rations (TMR). Commercial concentrates had the highest crude protein (CP) content (17.4 +/- 3.9)% dry matter (DM), while maize stover had the lowest (8.7 +/- 3.3% DM). All the feeds had low metabolisable energy (ME) that ranged from 7.0 +/- 0.8 (MJ/kg DM) megajoules per kilogram of dry matter (MJ/kg DM) for maize stover to 8.9 +/- 0.8 for dairy meal. Only grasses showed significant seasonal variation in CP and NDF (P > 0.00). Milk physicochemical composition was within the range stipulated by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). Milk physicochemical composition showed negligible seasonal variations to significantly affect milk processing, which suggests that farmers can cope with feed scarcity. Nevertheless, seasonal feed availability is a persistent challenge in smallholder dairy farms. There is a need to ensure sufficient feed availability throughout the year in smallholder dairy farms through feed conservation, feeding management and ration preparation to enable consistent milk production and physicochemical composition.

In smallholder dairy-cattle farming, identifying positive deviants that attain outstanding performance can inform targeted improvements in typical, comparable farms under similar environmental stresses. Mostly, positive deviants are identified subjectively, introducing bias and limiting generalisation. The aim of the study was to objectively identify positive deviant farms using the Pareto-optimality ranking technique in a sample of smallholder dairy farms under contrasting stressful environments in Tanzania to test the hypothesis that positive deviant farms that simultaneously outperform typical farms in multiple performance indicators also outperform in yield gap, productivity and livelihood benefits. The selection criteria set five performance indicators: energy balance ≥ 0.35 Mcal NEL/d, disease-incidence density ≤ 12.75 per 100 animal-years at risk, daily milk yield ≥ 6.32 L/cow/day, age at first calving ≤ 1153.28 days and calving interval ≤ 633.68 days. Findings proved the hypothesis. A few farms (27: 3.4%) emerged as positive deviants, outperforming typical farms in yield gap, productivity and livelihood benefits. The estimated yield gap in typical farms was 76.88% under low-stress environments and 48.04% under high-stress environments. On average, total cash income, gross margins and total benefits in dairy farming were higher in positive deviants than in typical farms in both low- and high-stress environments. These results show that the Pareto-optimality ranking technique applied in a large population objectively identified a few positive deviant farms that attained higher productivity and livelihood benefits in both low- and high-stress environments. However, positive deviants invested more in inputs. With positive deviant farms objectively identified, it is possible to characterise management practices that they deploy differently from typical farms and learn lessons to inform the uptake of best practices and extension messages to be directed to improving dairy management.

Aims: To collect preliminary baseline data prior to validation of three climate-smart technologies. Study Design: A structured questionnaire was employed with participation of actors along the Indigenous Chicken value chain. Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted from May 2019 to June 2020 within four (4) Sub-Counties in Busia and Machakos where high Indigenous Chicken populations are found. Methodology: A total of 160 households were surveyed. Targeted household information was recorded viz: distribution of respondents by village in the Counties; farmer socio-economic factors; flock structure and characteristics; disease and parasite constraints, management practices; disease reporting and communication amongst recruited farmers. Results: Results revealed that 56.5% of the respondents were male and 43.5% were female wit mean age of 50 years. Most farmers had formal education (97%) and practiced semi extensive poultry farming system (59%). Both indigenous and exotic chicken (62%) were kept for income purposes (82.6%) and only young chicks received feed supplements (55.8%). Newcastle (18.5%) and coccidiosis (16.4%) comprised the two major disease constraints reported. Prevalent bird disease symptoms were diarrhea (24.9%) and coughing (23.1%) while mites (27.9%) and fleas (22.3%) dominated the ecto-parasites. Disease control strategies comprised: vaccines (72.8%), dewormers (44.9%) and ethno-veterinary medicine. Aloe secundiflora and Aloe feroxin, were singled out as locally available and effective means of treating diarrhea (62.9%), respiratory infections (61.9%) and worm control (64.5%). Most Indigenous Chicken farmers (76.8%) failed to report illnesses among their flock and did not access to health services (72.1%). Farmers accessed health information through radio (26.5%) as opposed to mobile phones (1.65%). Conclusion: Findings of this survey reveal a low-grade free-range poultry system characterized by poor disease control. This scenario calls for targeted efforts by both government and private stakeholders to improve Indigenous Chicken management and help farmers adopt alternative climatic smart disease control interventions.