Bungoma: Bungoma has launched a countywide E-Voucher cattle vaccination and identification programme at a cost of Sh29.2 million, targeting about 266,000 cattle. Speaking at Wabukhonyi in Ndivisi ward during the official launch, the county governor Kenneth Lusaka said the initiative anchored on an E-Voucher subsidy system will ensure vaccination of local cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
According to Kenya News Agency, to implement the programme effectively, the county administration engaged 58 private animal health practitioners to work alongside government veterinarians in a door-to-door campaign, moving away from the old mass vaccination model. Lusaka stated that every cow in the region would be registered, identified, and monitored through modern technology to enhance traceability and animal health. The programme aims to protect farmers from losses and improve market access.
Under the scheme, farmers will pay Sh50 per animal, while the county government provides a Sh110 subsidy. During the vaccination drive, a cattle identification system will be rolled out using the Mifugo 360 Super App, digitally linking each cow to its owner. Lusaka noted that this innovation is expected to curb livestock theft, improve disease monitoring, and open structured markets for farmers, addressing a major challenge in the county.
The programme's purpose is to lay a foundation for sustainable livestock farming and better incomes for the community. The governor urged farmers to fully embrace the programme, cautioning that failing to vaccinate and register animals could expose them to unnecessary losses. This move marks a milestone in efforts to modernize agriculture and secure livelihoods in a county where livestock rearing is a backbone of the rural economy.
Lusaka also revealed plans for wider agricultural reforms, including the establishment of Ward-based Saccos to improve farmers' access to credit support for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in every ward.