Kajiado: The Kajiado County Government has launched a mass livestock vaccination campaign targeting over 350,000 cattle to curb the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) across the county. The exercise, launched at Ildamat Ward by Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho, is part of the National Livestock Vaccination Programme aimed at safeguarding animal health and boosting livestock productivity.
According to Kenya News Agency, Moshisho stated that the initiative will protect the county's livestock sector, which forms the main source of livelihood for many residents, particularly during the ongoing drought. He emphasized the importance of the vaccination programme in safeguarding livestock and their products for consumption. The vaccination process has been digitized through a special mobile application that records and collects data of vaccinated animals in real time, enhancing transparency and accountability.
The campaign is being implemented in partnership with the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) and the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI), under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation and Fisheries Francis ole Sakuda mentioned that the exercise will target the control of Foot and Mouth Disease in cattle and Peste des Petits Ruminants in goats and sheep.
The county government, through NAVCDP, has trained over 50 veterinary officers and paraprofessionals on the use of the e-voucher vaccination system, which will be utilized to register farmers and track vaccines via the Kenya Agriculture Management Information System. The digitized vaccination process is expected to enhance efficiency, prevent double vaccination, and provide real-time reporting to aid swift decision-making.
Under the cost-sharing arrangement, farmers will pay Sh50 per cow, while the county will subsidize Sh110 per dose. For small livestock, farmers will contribute Sh3 per animal, and the government will cover Sh10 per dose. Veterinary officers and paraprofessionals have been deployed in all five sub-counties and 25 wards, supported by Farmer Producer Organisations and Community-Driven Development Committees.
Philip Kishoyan, a local farmer who brought his 40 cattle and 70 goats and sheep for vaccination, expressed his support for the exercise, noting that it would help protect livestock from recurring disease outbreaks that often cause significant losses. Joseph Tobiko from Olosuyian also highlighted the importance of the vaccination programme in improving livestock health and sustaining pastoral livelihoods, urging fellow farmers to participate in the initiative for effective disease control.