For the first time in its over century-long history, the Nakuru National Show will allow visitors to purchase livestock exhibited at the event, transforming the annual show into a vibrant marketplace for farmers, breeders, and agricultural enthusiasts.
Scheduled to run from Wednesday, July 2 to Sunday, July 6 at the Nakuru Showground, the show will bring together exhibitors and visitors for five days of innovation, agribusiness, trade, education, livestock displays, and family-friendly entertainment.
This year’s event, themed “Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth,” is expected to attract over 150 exhibitors and thousands of visitors from Nakuru, Kericho, Nyandarua, Baringo, Laikipia, Narok, Bomet, and surrounding regions.
Traditionally known for showcasing pedigree livestock, advanced agricultural technologies, and innovative farming techniques, the event now includes livestock auctions. This addition brings a new dimension to the show, allowing direct connections between exhibitors and buyers an opportunity long requested by farmers and breeders.
Visitors will now be able to purchase high-quality animals, including top-grade dairy cows and resilient indigenous breeds. All livestock on sale have been carefully selected and vetted by the Kenya Livestock Breeders Organization (KLBO), ensuring that only healthy, well-bred animals are offered to buyers.
The initiative also includes training opportunities for farmers, with experts from Egerton University, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), and experienced breeders offering sessions on best practices in animal husbandry and how to effectively integrate new livestock into existing farming systems.
This new component of the show supports the broader theme of climate-smart agriculture, helping farmers adapt to the impacts of climate change while improving productivity and economic stability. By investing in high-quality livestock, farmers enhance their resilience, yields, and livelihoods.
Interested buyers must register at the KLBO pavilion, where they will have access to catalogues that provide detailed breed, age, and health information for each animal. Licensed brokers will oversee the transactions, with pricing based on the animals’ pedigree and prevailing market rates.
Past livestock auctions at similar ASK events have seen champion bulls sell for over KSh 1 million and elite dairy cows fetch upwards of KSh 300,000. Organizers are optimistic that the Nakuru show’s new auction segment will similarly modernize agricultural exhibitions and create meaningful economic opportunities for participants.
