Nairobi: The government is set to commence a comprehensive national livestock vaccination campaign in January 2025, as announced by Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja. The initiative, spearheaded by President William Ruto, aims to vaccinate 22 million cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and 50 million sheep and goats against Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) across the country.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Karanja emphasized the significant potential of the livestock industry to contribute to economic development and job creation, underscoring the importance of safeguarding it through disease prevention. During a visit to the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI), he noted that creating a disease-free environment is crucial for trading animals for meat. The CS dismissed misinformation regarding the vaccinations as baseless conspiracy theories, assuring the public of the vaccines’ safety.
Dr. Karanja highlighted the essential role veterina
ry vaccines play in protecting animal and public health, reducing animal suffering, and enabling efficient animal production. Achieving disease-free status will open markets for livestock and related products, boosting job creation along the value chain. He assured that all vaccines will be sourced locally from KEVEVAPI, which has sufficient capacity and exports to nine African countries.
The CS also noted the steady increase in vaccine production due to rising demand from counties and access to regional and international markets, including Uganda, Mali, Senegal, Somaliland, UAE, Sudan, and Southern Sudan. He urged KEVEVAPI to establish centers nationwide to improve accessibility. The institute’s vaccines are tested locally and externally by the African Union Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (AU-PANVAC) and deemed fit for use.
Dr. Karanja reassured livestock farmers of the government’s intentions, citing KEVEVAPI’s expertise since 1964 in producing vital livestock vaccines. He encouraged farmers to par
ticipate in the vaccination drive, coordinated with county governments and stakeholders.
Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Allan Azegele acknowledged the government’s unprecedented effort to facilitate animal vaccination programs. He highlighted ongoing awareness campaigns and stressed the importance of quality assurance for vaccines produced in Kenya. Dr. Azegele urged farmers to prepare for the vaccination program, emphasizing prevention over cure to avoid potential outbreaks that could devastate livestock and affect export markets.
The Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) outlines the government’s strategy to revitalize the economy through a value chain approach, with the State Department for Livestock focusing on enhancing productivity in the dairy, meat, and leather sectors.