Nairobi: The coastal county of Kwale is set to launch a livestock vaccination campaign against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). Foot and Mouth Disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, sheep, and pigs, causing fever and painful blisters in the mouth and on the feet. It is a serious animal disease with significant economic impacts, but it is not a public health risk and is not transmissible to humans.
According to Kenya News Agency, the vaccination initiative is being implemented through the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries under the National Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), marking a major milestone in efforts to prevent FMD outbreaks. County Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Roman Sherah stated that the massive vaccination drive targets 186,000 head of cattle. Sherah disclosed that the county has subsidized the cost of the vaccine, with farmers only required to pay Sh50 per cow. Through the NAVCDP project, local farmers will be required to pay Sh50 per cow, while the county government will cater for the remaining Sh110 during the vaccination process.
The senior county official noted that the vaccination and registration processes are expected to commence in the coming days and urged livestock farmers to turn up in large numbers and participate in the exercise. He said the vaccination drive will begin after farmers register their livestock in the new e-voucher system and undergo sensitization. 'Training and awareness creation forums for farmers and other stakeholders are currently ongoing so as to have a smooth vaccine implementation,' he said, adding that if unchecked, the disease can inflict severe economic losses.
Sherah was speaking during a sensitization forum for Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) on the registration and vaccination of cattle against FMD. The county also held a series of sensitization meetings with local farmers on biosecurity, hygiene, and vaccination schedules. He said the devolved government's strategy is to vaccinate all livestock, including healthy animals, so as to provide 'herd immunity' against the disease. 'Vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure to safeguard herds and sustain livestock productivity,' he said, adding that it is critical to bring animal diseases under control as a prerequisite for productivity enhancements.
The Agriculture Executive stated that FMD remains an endemic livestock disease that has caused significant economic losses to livestock keepers over the years. He said Kwale's long-term livestock sector strategy is to establish a defined Disease-Free Zone with the objective of accessing international markets for livestock, milk, and meat products. Kwale County NAVCDP Coordinator Moses Nderitu emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration between farmers, government agencies, and stakeholders in the agricultural value chain. Nderitu said most counties are already faced with the challenge of low productivity in the livestock sector due to underfunding and poor animal husbandry and nutrition.
He said infectious livestock diseases remain highly prevalent, causing significant animal deaths and threatening farmers' livelihoods and food security. 'This vaccination and digital registration exercise is more than a health measure; it is an economic strategy. By ensuring traceability and disease-free livestock, we are opening up access to national and export markets for our farmers,' said Nderitu. He said FMD is a notifiable disease and vaccination of animals at risk in demarcated buffer zones is the most effective method of control. The NAVCDP official emphasized the need for proper disease reporting, saying accurate data helps authorities respond faster and tailor vaccination programmes.
Kwale County Assembly's Agriculture Committee vice-chair Khadija Ngala stated that the initiative is a timely intervention that will protect the economic backbone of many rural families. 'We applaud the vaccination initiative as local farmers have suffered losses in the past due to disease outbreaks. This initiative will go a long way in restoring their confidence in livestock keeping and safeguarding their livelihoods,' she said. The MCA said cattle rearing is a livelihood for the residents in arid and semi-arid parts of Kwale and is often threatened by the spread of animal diseases affecting the lives of the people who depend on them. 'Actually, the FMD vaccination should be carried out on an annual basis to keep the disease incidence to zero', she said.