Updated 19 October 2026
Quick answer: the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) head office is on Kaptagat Road, Loresho, Nairobi. Call the contact centre on 0111 010100 or toll free on 0800 721 741, or email info@kalro.org. For seed, breeds or advice on a specific crop or animal, the research institute that handles it is usually faster. All 15 institute contacts are listed below.
In this guide
KALRO Head Office Contacts at a Glance
| Channel | Details published by KALRO |
|---|---|
| Contact centre | 0111 010100 |
| Toll-free line | 0800 721 741 |
| Direct lines | +254 722 206986/8, +254 733 333299, +254 733 333223/4 |
| info@kalro.org | |
| Physical address | Kaptagat Road, Loresho, Nairobi |
| Postal address | Director General, P.O. Box 57811, City Square, Nairobi 00200 |
| Social media | Facebook and X: Kalromkulima |
KALRO does not publish a WhatsApp number on its contact page, so treat any WhatsApp line claiming to be KALRO with caution, especially if it asks you to pay for seed or training in advance.
What KALRO Does and Why You Might Call
KALRO is the government body that runs agricultural and livestock research in Kenya. It was set up under the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Act of 2013. Farmers, agro-dealers, students and investors contact it for:
- Certified seed and planting material, sold through KALRO Seeds and the Mkulima shops at some institutes.
- Improved breeds, such as improved indigenous (kienyeji) chicken and dairy goats.
- Technical advice on crops, pests, soil, pasture and animal diseases.
- Training, farmer field days and visits to research farms.
- Internships, attachments, jobs and tenders.
KALRO Research Institutes and Their Contacts
KALRO works through research institutes, each with a national mandate for a group of crops or animals. The table lists the contacts each institute publishes on kalro.org. Where an institute publishes no phone number, the cell is left blank rather than guessed.
| Institute | Location | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Mechanization Research Institute (AMRI) | Katumani, Machakos County, along the Machakos-Wote Road (P.O. Box 340-90100 Machakos) | +254 710 906 600 | director.amri@kalro.org |
| Arid and Range Lands Research Institute | Kiboko, Makindu Sub-County, Makueni County (P.O. Box 12-90138 Makindu) | 0722 289697 / 0794 107782 | director.arlri@kalro.org |
| Coffee Research Institute | Ruiru (P.O. Box 4-00232) | 0700 756 753 / 0724 527 611 / 0771 687826 | director.cri@kalro.org |
| Horticulture Research Institute | Gatanga Sub-County, Murang’a County, 5 km north of Thika (P.O. Box 220-01000 Thika) | 020 2055038 | director.hri@kalro.org |
| Apiculture and Beneficial Insects Research Institute | Marigat, Baringo County, off the Nakuru-Sigor Road (P.O. Box 32-30403 Marigat) | +254 758 017378 | Director.ABIRI@kalro.org |
| Biotechnology Research Institute | P.O. Box 362-00902 Kikuyu | director.biori@kalro.org | |
| Genetic Resources Research Institute | KALRO Muguga South, Kiambu County (P.O. Box 781-00902 Kikuyu) | director.grri@kalro.org | |
| Veterinary Science Research Institute | KALRO Muguga, off the Nairobi-Naivasha Highway (P.O. Box 32-00902 Kikuyu) | +254 20 2524616 | Director.vsri@kalro.org |
| Tea Research Institute | 5 km off the Nakuru-Kericho Road (P.O. Box 820-20200 Kericho) | 0722 209915 / 0794 162802 | director.tri@kalro.org |
| Industrial Crops Research Institute | Mtwapa, Kilifi County (P.O. Box 16-80109 Mtwapa) | +254 20 2024751 / +254 20 2107534 | director.icri@kalro.org |
| Food Crops Research Institute | Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, on the Kitale-Webuye road (P.O. Box 450-30200 Kitale) | 020 2029637 | Director.fcri@kalro.org |
| Beef Research Institute | Garissa (P.O. Box 230-70100 Garissa) | 020 8044936 | director.bri@kalro.org |
| Dairy Research Institute | Naivasha, about 100 km west of Nairobi on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway (P.O. Box 25-20117 Naivasha) | 020 2390930 | karinaivasha@gmail.com (as published) |
| Non-Ruminant Research Institute | Kakamega town (P.O. Box 169-50100 Kakamega) | 020 2619792 | director.nri@kalro.org |
| Sheep, Goat and Camel Research Institute | Marsabit Centre, Caritas Road, about 2.5 km from Marsabit town (P.O. Box 147-60500) | director.sgri@kalro.org |
Research Centres You Can Visit
Several institutes run more than one centre. KALRO lists these, among others:
- Industrial Crops: Mtwapa (headquarters), a sub-centre at Kikoneni, and centres at Mwea (Kirinyaga), Molo (Nakuru) and the sericulture centre at Kandara (Murang’a). Its crops are coconut, cashew nuts, bixa, cotton, sisal, kenaf, jute and pyrethrum.
- Dairy: Naivasha (headquarters), Ol Joro Orok about 9 km from Nyahururu, and Msabaha in Kilifi.
- Beef: Garissa, Lanet (about 18 km from Nakuru, email kalro.lanet@kalro.org), Mariakani (0730 707374 / 0730 707107, kalro.mariakani@kalro.org) and Trans Mara at Lolgorian.
- Sheep, Goat and Camel: Marsabit (headquarters) and Buchuma, near Mackinnon Road about 68 km from Voi (P.O. Box 389-80300 Voi, 0739 594177, kalro.buchuma@kalro.org).
- Non-Ruminant: Kakamega, with further centres in Naivasha and Msabaha.
Which Office Should You Contact?
- Seed, seedlings and breeds: call the institute for that value chain. The Horticulture Research Institute near Thika, for example, sells grafted mango, avocado, passion fruit and macadamia seedlings and tissue-culture bananas at its Mkulima shop.
- Coffee or tea problems: go straight to the Coffee Research Institute in Ruiru or the Tea Research Institute in Kericho.
- Animal health: the Veterinary Science Research Institute at Muguga handles vaccines and livestock disease research.
- Beekeeping: the Apiculture institute at Marigat.
- Anything else, or if a line rings unanswered: use the contact centre on 0111 010100 or the toll-free 0800 721 741 and ask to be routed.
Tips for Reaching KALRO Faster
- Call in working hours and have your county, crop or animal, and the exact question ready.
- When you email, put the product or service in the subject line, for example “Tissue-culture banana seedlings, Murang’a”.
- Ask for a written quotation before paying for seed, seedlings or animals, and pay only through the official channel the institute gives you.
- For complaints, KALRO’s website has a feedback and complaints section under Customer Service.
Plan the Business Side Before You Buy
KALRO’s improved varieties and breeds only pay off if the numbers work. Before you order, run your figures through our dairy farming profit calculator, avocado farming profit calculator, broiler poultry profit calculator or layers profit calculator. If you are planting potatoes, our Irish potato farming guide explains seed, spacing and market prices. Graduates looking for agriculture jobs can also check current openings on JobinKenya.
Last verified: October 2026, from kalro.org contact and institute pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the KALRO toll-free number?
KALRO’s toll-free number is 0800 721 741. The contact centre line is 0111 010100.
What is the KALRO email address?
The general email is info@kalro.org. Each institute also has a director’s email, listed in the table above.
Where is the KALRO head office?
The head office is on Kaptagat Road in Loresho, Nairobi. The postal address is P.O. Box 57811, City Square, Nairobi 00200.
Does KALRO sell seeds directly?
Yes. KALRO sells seed through KALRO Seeds and at Mkulima shops at some institutes, such as the Horticulture Research Institute near Thika. Call the institute first to confirm stock and prices.
Does KALRO have a WhatsApp number?
No WhatsApp number is published on KALRO’s official contact page. Use the phone lines and email above.
How many research institutes does KALRO have?
KALRO’s website lists 15 research institutes covering crops, livestock, mechanization, biotechnology and genetic resources, each with its own centres.
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