Kajiado: The Kajiado government, in collaboration with the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), has trained over 50 veterinary surgeons and paraprofessionals on the e-Voucher vaccination system in preparation for a countywide livestock vaccination campaign starting October 7, 2025. The training took place at Isinya Multipurpose Hall, gathering veterinary officers, paraprofessionals, and project staff from the county to enhance their digital skills for implementing a modern, technology-driven vaccination program.
According to Kenya News Agency, NAVCDP County Project Coordinator Philip Koitelel highlighted the significance of the e-voucher system in improving accountability and efficiency in livestock vaccination. By adopting digital solutions like the e-voucher system, the county aims to reach more farmers efficiently and ensure real-time accountability for every dose administered. This technological innovation is set to strengthen disease control, bolster farmer confidence, and enhance the competitiveness of Kajiado's livestock sector.
Koitelel explained that the county's embrace of digital transformation aims to improve service delivery and ensure resources reach the intended beneficiaries. The e-voucher system is expected to eliminate cases of double vaccination, stock mismanagement, and delays in field reporting, thereby enabling faster decision-making based on real-time data. Modeled on Kenya's e-voucher fertilizer subsidy program, the system automates and streamlines livestock vaccination services. It facilitates the registration of farmers and their livestock on the Kenya Agriculture Management Information System (KIAMIS), provides voucher-based access to vaccination services, and supports real-time tracking and reporting to enhance transparency and accountability.
The digital system aims to address challenges experienced in past vaccination campaigns, such as manual record-keeping, low farmer trust, and difficulties in tracking vaccine distribution. Koitelel emphasized that the use of technology would improve coordination among veterinary officers in the field, empowering them to make informed decisions swiftly as part of the future of animal health management.
The upcoming vaccination campaign will target cattle, goats, and sheep across all five sub-counties and 25 wards, focusing on controlling Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR). The county plans to vaccinate over 350,000 cattle under a cost-sharing arrangement, with farmers paying Sh50 per large animal while the county government, through NAVCDP, subsidizes Sh110 per dose. For small livestock, farmers will pay Sh3 per animal, and the government will cover Sh10 per dose. Veterinary officers and paraprofessionals will be deployed at ward and community vaccination points, supported by Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Community-Driven Development Committees (CDDCs). Digital registration and real-time reporting will enable monitoring teams to track progress and respond promptly to any logistical challenges during the exercise.
This initiative is part of the county's broader strategy to strengthen livestock health services and enhance disease control, serving as a prerequisite for participation in regional and international meat export markets. It is also expected to boost pastoralist resilience, safeguard livelihoods, and promote climate-smart livestock production systems that contribute to food security and economic growth.