Gov't heightens response as African Swine Fever kills 1,470 pigs in Kiambu

The Ministry of Interior and National Administration said on Saturday that the outbreak had affected more than 20 farms in Kiambu, raising concerns over further spread of the highly contagious disease.

According to the Department of Veterinary Services, significant ASF outbreaks have also been reported in Tharaka-Nithi, Busia, Embu, Kakamega, Homa Bay and Migori counties.

In Tharaka-Nithi alone, 108 cases and 97 deaths were recorded between January 5 and 11, 2026.

The government said it has stepped up livestock disease surveillance, prevention and response measures, while also monitoring the movement of livestock and pastoralist communities across borders.

The update was presented to the Border Control and Operations Coordination Committee (BCOCC), chaired by Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.

The outbreak comes as Kenya seeks to expand its pig sector, which contributes an estimated Ksh19.5 billion, or about five per cent, of livestock output. African Swine Fever, alongside high feed costs and weaknesses in traceability and cold-chain infrastructure, has been identified as one of the constraints affecting the sector.

The government is also implementing measures to reduce the risk of livestock diseases being spread through cross-border movement.

Kenya is implementing the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Protocol on Transhumance, which provides a framework for the seasonal movement of pastoralists and livestock across international borders.

The protocol covers three pastoral clusters involving Kenya and neighbouring countries: the Mandera Cluster linking Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia; the Karamoja Cluster linking Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda; and the Mara-Serengeti Cluster linking Kenya and Tanzania.

Authorities said interventions include vaccination campaigns against Peste des Petits Ruminants and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, deworming and pest-control measures, as well as efforts to strengthen Foot-and-Mouth Disease control.

The government is also implementing the €47 million (Ksh. 7 billion) Pastoralism and Livestock Adaptation to Climate in Eastern Africa programme, funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the European Union, to strengthen livestock systems and pastoralist livelihoods.

The Ministry said the measures are intended to contain animal diseases while allowing pastoralist communities to maintain seasonal migration routes and economic activities.