The draft means that for the first time the country will have a specific policy document to guide the development of poultry, a stakeholders meeting was told, reports Daily Nation.

Wairimu Kariuki, chairperson of the Kenya Poultry Farmers Association, said a task force formed by the Ministry of Livestock Development had convened several meetings across the country and would finalise the draft by next month.

The draft, she said, will form a Bill which if and when passed by Parliament will become a law to guide the sector.

Joseph Egessa who is in charge of livestock production at the Ministry of Livestock Development is chairing the 15-member task force that was established in March.

Among the terms of reference for the team are to outline the status and contribution of poultry to the Kenyan economy, review the historical background and current status of the poultry industry and examine the functions of all players in the industry.

A report prepared by the Government estimates that currently there are nearly 30 million poultry in the country whose meat and eggs fetch about 15 billion shillings (KES).

About 1.2 billion eggs are produced annually by farmers across the country, while broiler producers have an output of about 20,000 metric tons of meat.

The report further states that it is estimated that poultry feed dealers manufacture about 300,000 metric tonnes with a value of about KES8 billion.

"Due to lack of a policy, farmers in this sector are grossly exploited. The proposed law should stop this by ensuring farmers benefit," Ms Kariuki told an investors' meeting at the Grand Batian Hotel in Nyeri Town.