Kenya has dozens of animal laws,  yet most date back decades. One review of the national strategy notes that they are “old, outdated, fragmented and difficult to implement and enforce.” Even landmark statutes like the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (amended 2012) fall short of the OIE animal welfare standards. Analysts point out that these ageing laws still contain legal loopholes that limit real protection for animals.

Even where laws exist on paper, enforcement can be weak. Limited budgets, staff and training often leave violations unpunished. In fact, wildlife experts report that many poaching or cruelty cases simply “slip through the cracks” when officers lack the evidence or resources to act.

Without serious follow-through, animals see little justice:  as one advocate notes, weak enforcement means new policies are too easily “severely compromised”. The result is a lot of well-meaning laws that do not translate into change on the ground.

Awareness gaps make matters worse. A 2017 review found no evidence that animal welfare education and training is regularly offered to key stakeholders. In other words, most farmers, transporters, police officers or even judges receive no animal protection training.

Surveys across Africa confirm this disconnect: animal welfare is still not widely understood, and many people think of it only in terms of pets or majestic wildlife, not the everyday livestock or working animals around them. Until police, teachers and the public are taught to recognise and value animal suffering, cruelty laws will remain abstract rules rather than shared values.

Legal loopholes and gaps are a familiar problem. Offenders often exploit every opening in the rules. IFAW reports bluntly observe that poachers know how to exploit legal and regulatory framework loopholes. This means some harmful acts fall outside any clear ban. For example, broad exemptions in health or anti-cruelty laws can let unethical but technically legal practices continue. Until Kenya’s statutes are updated to cover all common forms of cruelty, offenders will keep finding ways around them.

What makes it worse is when corruption enters the picture. Illegal wildlife networks have long worked “hand in glove” with bribery and graft in East Africa, and even UN experts warn that corruption “casts a looming shadow” over Kenyan conservation efforts. The same can happen with domestic animals: without transparent oversight, laws are only as strong as the weakest link in enforcement.

At the same time, policymakers have often overlooked key stakeholders. Veterinarians, herders, small farmers and rescue groups are frequently left out of the conversation when new rules are drafted. When those on the front lines of animal care aren’t consulted, the resulting laws risk missing real problems and practical solutions. In sum, graft and a top-down process create gaps that let animal suffering persist despite the best intentions of the law.