Agriculture CS Kagwe launches nationwide livestock vaccination campaign

The government’s ambitious nationwide livestock vaccination campaign has officially kicked off in Laikipia County.

The program was on Thursday launched by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and aims to vaccinate at least 22 million cattle and 50 million goats and sheep over the next three years.

However, the initiative has faced fierce resistance from some farmers and political leaders, fueled by misinformation about the vaccines.

In response, the government has assured farmers of the vaccines’ safety and effectiveness, adding that the initiative is for their own benefit.

"Hakuna kiongozi ambaye anajua anafanya nini ataingia kwa jamii aseme chanjo ni mbaya…Watu walisema Covid si nzuri na ndio wanasema hii chanjo ni mbaya. Propaganda is lack of knowledge,” Kagwe said.

However, the CS reiterated that the program is entirely voluntary, emphasizing that no farmer will be forced to vaccinate their animals.

"Nawasihi wale ambao walikuwa na doubt hawaamini hii kazi itaendelea, itaendelea. It is not by force. Ule hataki ni sawa. Lakini ukumbuke livestock is devolved, uzungumze na Governor wako. Yule hataki ni yule anasema ng’ombe yangu ipate ugonjwa,” he added.

Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu on his part said his government would prevent other unvaccinated cattle from entering the county.

"We will not allow any cow that has not been vaccinated to come to Laikipia County,” he said.

The government’s aim is to vaccinate at least 22 million cattle and 50 million goats and sheep over three years, citing the importance of immunization in controlling foot-and-mouth disease in cattle and peste des petits ruminants (PPR), commonly known as sheep and goat plague.

"Kenya has the third-largest livestock herd in Africa, after Sudan and Somalia. We have 22 million cows and 50 million small stocks—goats and sheep. We must vaccinate all our livestock to help create wealth and get maximum returns for our herders and livestock keepers,” Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said.

CS Kagwe added; "Mambo ya wafugaji tunaangalia vizuri. We will give as much attention to livestock as we've done to crops. We shall improve the income of the farmer as a philosophy. Kazi yangu ni kuhakikisha the farmer has enough money."

Opposition to the program has been fueled by various conspiracy theories, including claims that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is financing the initiative and that the vaccines could alter livestock genetics, potentially leading to defective animals.

"I assure you that this is a normal vaccine, like what we have been doing since childhood. I would ask all livestock farmers to vaccinate their animals and not listen to propagandists,” Prof. Gulie, Advisor to the President on Livestock stated.

DP Kindiki said: "We have great market openings abroad, but we cannot export our meat and milk products if our animals have disease doubts. Vaccination will resolve this problem absolutely."

In Laikipia County, the campaign targets 1.1 million livestock, including 300,000 cattle and 800,000 goats and sheep, as the government pushes forward with its efforts to protect the agricultural sector.