The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has announced coordinated livestock vaccination exercise across all counties. This exercise aims to contain disease outbreaks following an increase in transmission of animal infections across county boundaries.
Speaking in Naivasha after meeting the agriculture
CEC’s from the 47 counties and directors of veterinary services, livestock PS,
Harry Kimtai said the joint exercise will be carried out by the national
and county governments.
The PS noted that the exercise was critical given
the continued movements of livestock between counties. He however expressed his
concern over funding the exercise saying that it was going to be a major
challenge.
“The national government will soon stop funding
vaccination exercise as this fall under the county government. It’s time that
counties governments started making sufficient budget allocations for animal
health in their respective counties.” The PS Said.
Addressing the same gathering, the CAS in the
agriculture ministry Lawrence Angolo Omuhaka said that they are keen to work
with the counties in the exercise adding that poor animal health has adversely affected
international livestock markets with countries like Kuwait effecting bans on
animal products from Kenya.
The chairman of the CEC’s agriculture
committee Albert Mwaniki welcomed the coordinated exercise and emphasised the
counties’ commitment to setting aside funds for such undertakings.
Well-coordinated vaccination exercise would help
stop spread of diseases which occur as farmers moved their animals from one
market to another and while looking for pasture.
In the past, such efforts have been hampered by high
cost of vaccines, long distances to vaccination points, lack of information on
vaccination campaigns and decision-making processes at the household level.
Veterinary workers were challenged to help design
more effective community livestock vaccination programs that will appeal to
farmers based on community interests.
