By Milliam Murigi
Every day when Duncan Kamiti, an animal scientist and head of Kenchic Broiler Farms, arrives at the Kenchic Kakuzi North broiler farm, his routine is the same.
Showering, wearing a fresh set of clothes, and using foot dips with disinfectants. He also confirms that no one breaches the strict biosecurity rules set for the farm.
To him, these are not mere protocols they are the foundation of disease prevention and the misuse of antibiotics in poultry farming.
“At our farm, we maintain very strict biosecurity measures because we want to avoid using antibiotics unless it is absolutely necessary. We focus on being proactive rather than reactive,” says Kamiti.
According to him, this proactive approach has significantly reduced the company’s reliance on antibiotics, ensuring healthier birds and safer products for consumers.
He believes the same principles can benefit small and large poultry farmers alike, many of whom continue to struggle with frequent disease outbreaks due to weak hygiene and poor biosecurity practices.
“Don’t be reactive. Ignoring basic hygiene and biosecurity measures will shrink your margins and endanger your consumers. When you mask everything with antibiotics, you pay twice—financially and in public health terms,” Kamiti adds.
According to him, the rampant misuse of antibiotics, often by farmers trying to cut corners or treat diseases without veterinary guidance, is one of the reasons antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is creeping into the food chain.
AMR occurs when germs such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites develop the ability to survive medicines that are meant to kill them. In poultry farming, one of the largest consumers of antibiotics in the livestock sector, the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, especially when farmers treat birds without proper diagnosis, allows bacteria to adapt and become harder to control. These drug-resistant germs can then spread through chicken meat, eggs, farm workers, and the environment, ultimately entering the human food chain.
“While antibiotics remain essential tools in animal health, their role is often overstretched due to preventable infections. Disease prevention is far more effective and cheaper than treatment,” Kamiti says.
AMR not only threatens public health but also makes common infections more difficult and costly to treat. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that AMR could cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050 if left unchecked. Kenya is already seeing rising cases of drug-resistant infections.
According to Kamiti, many farmers are failing at the most basic level: proper poultry management. Most farmers think poultry farming is just buying day-old chicks, feeding them, and waiting to sell. But there are basics they ignore such as the quality and traceability of chicks, vaccination schedules, hygiene, and general husbandry.
“If farmers get the basics right, they will raise healthier birds, spend less on treatment, protect consumers, and play their part in slowing antibiotic resistance,” he says.
Kamiti notes a worrying rise in untraceable chick suppliers, with many farmers opting for cheaper chicks whose health history is unknown. These birds are often more susceptible to disease, forcing farmers to rely on antibiotics frequently without proper diagnosis and veterinary prescription.
“At Kenchic, we hardly ever need antibiotics because we prevent diseases before they starts. Every chick arrives fully vaccinated, and our strict biosecurity measures keep infections out,” he explains.
According to Emily Muema, Acting CEO of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) in Kenya, ignoring proper management has costly consequences. First, the farmer loses birds through high mortality. Then they spend a lot of money on treatments. At the end, they deliver fewer kilos to the market. It’s a huge loss.
But the impact does not end on the farm. Inappropriate use of antibiotics leads to drug residues in meat, exposing consumers to health risks and contributes to the global fight against AMR.
“One of the biggest AMR drivers in poultry is the failure to observe withdrawal periods (the time needed for antibiotics to clear from a bird’s system before slaughter). Many farmers, under pressure to meet market timelines, sell birds before the drugs clear, leading to residues in the food chain,” she reveals.
Kamiti says solving this challenge requires stronger collaboration between farmers and veterinary professionals, noting that responsible antibiotic use is only possible when the two work closely together.
“A trained professional can tell a farmer when to treat, how to treat, and how to observe withdrawal periods,” he says. “This will only change if vets and farmers work hand in hand.”
Adding that “The attitude of ‘I can treat it myself’ is common among farmers and dangerous. We will not have outbreaks if things are done right. Engage veterinarians and work with professionals, preventing disease is easier and cheaper than treating it.”
