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Population growth, rapid urbanization and rising income levels in low and middle income countries (LMICs) are driving an increase in demand for animal source products ( Latino, Pica-Ciamarra, and Wisser 2020). Increasing livestock production is one of the available pathways for meeting the rising demand for animal source foods in LMICs. Indeed, intensification of livestock production as a way of achieving economic growth alongside satisfying the growing demand for animal source foods is envisioned in development strategies such as Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme CAADP and Kenya’s vision 2030. However, these strategies also seek to achieve sustainability targets through the optimal use of natural resources in while meeting the diverse and competing demand(Bosire et al. 2022). An increase in livestock production will mean increased demand for land and freshwater in livestock production which will affect socio-economic, political and natural resource spheres. This is especially evident given the competing demand for land and freshwater (Bosire et al. 2022) experienced globally (Bac, Badulescu, and Lang 2011; Chertow 2000). Sustained growth in livestock production to meet the growing demand for animal source foods will therefore be determined by the availability of adequate land and freshwater to support agricultural production (Stroosnijder et al. 2012; Wirsenius, Azar, and Berndes 2010). Fresh water is an important factor in agricultural production, a sector that accounts for up to 70% of global water withdrawal. A third of the water consumed in agriculture is associated with livestock production. This demand for freshwater by the livestock sector is likely to increase with the growing demand for animal source foods(Ibidhi and Ben Salem 2020; Mekonnen and Hoekstra 2012), driving pressure on the agricultural sector in supplying food, feed and biofuels. Projections indicate that two-thirds of the world population will face water scarcity by 2025(Mekonnen and Hoekstra 2012). This increase in freshwater demand therefore needs to be comprehensively assessed and appropriate solutions proposed. The awareness of the need to preserve freshwater resources is growing among various stakeholders including researchers, policy makers and government representatives. To inform on the most optimal governance and to meet the various objectives of the stakeholders in freshwater utilization for agriculture and industry, preservation of freshwater resources, a strong evidence base on current and projected water use is required. The water footprint (WF) is a metric that provides key information that facilitates optimal freshwater management and governance. The WF is an indicator that quantifies water use in a manner that allows for an understanding of the impacts of human activity on freshwater resources(Mekonnen and Hoekstra 2012; Zhang, Hoekstra, and Mathews 2013). The water footprint measures water use in producing consumer goods, expressed as the volume evaporated or polluted(Mekonnen and Hoekstra 2011). The WF is broken down into three components: green, blue, and grey water footprints. Green water comes from rainfall and supports rainfed crops, while blue water is associated with ground water sources such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers, and in the context of agriculture is typically used for irrigation. Grey water reflects water quality, indicating the volume needed to dilute pollutants to safe levels.