Born in 1964, he was educated at St Colman's College, Fermoy. Subsequently did a degree in Business Studies at CIT. Works in the insurance industry and is a farmer. O'Keeffe is a son of former minister Ned O'Keeffe. He failed to get elected at the last general election during a massive backlash against Fianna Fáil. He has been a county councillor since 1997. Kevin O'Keeffe resides in Mitchelstown. His father, a TD for Cork East from 1982 to 2011, resigned from Fianna Fáil in December 2014 ahead of pleading guilty to expenses fraud. He retired from national politics in January 2011.