NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) has called for the suspension of a government plan to vaccinate millions of livestock nationwide, citing lack of stakeholder consultation and insufficient public sensitization.
The vaccination program, scheduled to begin in January, targets 22 million cattle and other livestock, with President William Ruto touting its potential to improve milk and meat quality for export while addressing greenhouse gas emissions.
However, KVA and a section of livestock farmers have pushed back, arguing that critical questions surrounding the initiative remain unanswered.
In a statement on Tuesday, KVA National Chairman Kelvin Osore criticized the government for sidelining key stakeholders, including veterinary professionals, during the program’s development.
“We were not involved in its conception or planning. The government just rushed to us recently, and there has been no meaningful engagement,” Osore said.
Osore emphasized the need for transparency, demanding clarity on which diseases the program targets, its sponsors, and the rationale behind vaccinating livestock nationwide.
“There is a lot of misinformation fueling mistrust and resistance among farmers and professionals. We don’t even know how long the program will run,” he added.
KVA questioned the appropriateness of a countrywide vaccination campaign, arguing that some diseases, such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), are localized and do not justify blanket coverage.
“Vaccination should be tailored to specific regions. You can’t vaccinate for diseases that are not widespread,” Osore said, adding that the association could not substantiate the government’s claims about reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the exercise.
The association also called on the government to prioritize addressing other pressing challenges in the livestock sector before allocating resources to a vaccination program shrouded in uncertainty.
“It’s a pity that even a professional organization like ours doesn’t have sufficient information on this initiative,” Osore said.
Resistance from farmers and stakeholders, coupled with the government’s perceived failure to engage the public, risks undermining the program’s success, KVA warned.
“This situation hampers disease control and could even create further outbreaks,” Osore noted.
The government maintains that the initiative, which will also include vaccinations for goats, sheep, and small livestock, will improve productivity and bolster Kenya’s competitiveness in global markets.
Despite this, KVA has urged authorities to pause the program, address lingering questions, and ensure adequate sensitization of farmers and the public.
“We reiterate our support for strategic and sustained vaccination campaigns to control livestock diseases such as FMD and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), but the current approach needs urgent review,” Osore concluded.
The vaccination program, scheduled to begin in January, targets 22 million cattle and other livestock, with President William Ruto touting its potential to improve milk and meat quality for export while addressing greenhouse gas emissions.
However, KVA and a section of livestock farmers have pushed back, arguing that critical questions surrounding the initiative remain unanswered.
In a statement on Tuesday, KVA National Chairman Kelvin Osore criticized the government for sidelining key stakeholders, including veterinary professionals, during the program’s development.
“We were not involved in its conception or planning. The government just rushed to us recently, and there has been no meaningful engagement,” Osore said.
Osore emphasized the need for transparency, demanding clarity on which diseases the program targets, its sponsors, and the rationale behind vaccinating livestock nationwide.
“There is a lot of misinformation fueling mistrust and resistance among farmers and professionals. We don’t even know how long the program will run,” he added.
KVA questioned the appropriateness of a countrywide vaccination campaign, arguing that some diseases, such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), are localized and do not justify blanket coverage.
“Vaccination should be tailored to specific regions. You can’t vaccinate for diseases that are not widespread,” Osore said, adding that the association could not substantiate the government’s claims about reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the exercise.
The association also called on the government to prioritize addressing other pressing challenges in the livestock sector before allocating resources to a vaccination program shrouded in uncertainty.
“It’s a pity that even a professional organization like ours doesn’t have sufficient information on this initiative,” Osore said.
Resistance from farmers and stakeholders, coupled with the government’s perceived failure to engage the public, risks undermining the program’s success, KVA warned.
“This situation hampers disease control and could even create further outbreaks,” Osore noted.
The government maintains that the initiative, which will also include vaccinations for goats, sheep, and small livestock, will improve productivity and bolster Kenya’s competitiveness in global markets.
Despite this, KVA has urged authorities to pause the program, address lingering questions, and ensure adequate sensitization of farmers and the public.
“We reiterate our support for strategic and sustained vaccination campaigns to control livestock diseases such as FMD and Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), but the current approach needs urgent review,” Osore concluded.
