The Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) on Tuesday expressed concerns about the mass vaccination of cattle announced by the government, scheduled to begin in January 2025.
In a statement dated 17 December, KVA highlighted four risks warranting the postponement of the mass vaccination exercise while supporting efforts to control livestock diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR).
According to the veterinary association, FMD and PPR hinder international trade by causing trade restrictions, loss of market access, and damage to Kenya’s reputation as a reliable exporter of livestock and animal products. However, the association raised four dangers that could undermine the exercise.
“While appreciating these clarifications and the importance of a national vaccination campaign, we must also confront several residual issues which undermine this campaign from inception,” KVA stated.
The first danger cited by KVA is the credibility crisis currently facing the administration.
“This administration’s actions since it came to power have eroded any sense of public trust that Kenyans had in government institutions, making it hard for them to trust such government initiatives. From supplying its own farmers with fake fertiliser to so many lies told as promises, it’s hard to blame Kenyans when they see conspiracies in such programmes,” the statement read in part.
KVA also highlighted the lack of public sensitisation and stakeholder engagement by the government. The association contended that the government’s failure to conduct adequate public sensitisation has fuelled widespread resistance and misinformation among livestock keepers and the general public.
Challenges stemming from devolution in veterinary services were identified as a key impediment to the mass vaccination of cattle.
“Counties have poorly resourced veterinary departments, leading to inconsistent implementation of national strategies such as the Kenya PPR and FMD control strategies. This fragmentation undermines the effectiveness of disease control efforts, leaving livestock populations vulnerable and threatening national and regional food security,” the veterinary association added.
KVA flagged the politicisation of the exercise as a red flag requiring urgent intervention. “We strongly condemn attempts by some politicians to politicise the vaccination campaign. Such actions distract from the critical goal of controlling diseases and risk alienating livestock keepers, further jeopardising any programme’s success.”
President William Ruto on November 8 announced mass vaccination of over 22 million cows, an exercise that has received a lot of public backlash.
Githunguri Member of Parliament (MP) Gathoni Wamuchomba and Wiper party leader have been vocal in opposing the scheduled vaccination.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja on November 21 assured Kenyans that the vaccines were safe. The assurance came when Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka criticised the government’s plan to vaccinate cows.
