KARI improved Kienyeji was bred by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute(KARI), now known as Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Institute (KARLO) at their research center in Naivasha, with collaboration with researchers from Egerton University, Njoro.

Kari Improved Kienyeji is 100% indigenous chicken. It was not a product of crossing indigenous breeds with exotic breeds but a result of breeding different indigenous parents with good characteristics