On Sunday, President William Ruto urged Kenyan leaders to refrain from politicizing the ongoing livestock vaccination exercise, emphasizing that it is a matter of national importance and a critical step for the growth of Kenya’s economy.
In his address, President Ruto noted that the government has been actively seeking international markets for Kenyan livestock products, including meat, skins, and dairy. To ensure that these products meet international standards, it is essential that Kenyan livestock are vaccinated against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals.
“We must be decent leaders and stop bringing petty politics into things that matter to the people of Kenya. The economy of this nation is at stake. We have secured markets for our beef, dairy, and leather products, and to meet the international standards, our livestock must be vaccinated. The vaccines being used are locally produced by Kenyan scientists, and are even exported to other countries,” said President Ruto.
The President also pointed out that the vaccination exercise has been ongoing for decades and has been critical in controlling livestock diseases. He dismissed claims that the exercise is illegal or harmful, calling such views politically motivated.
“Foot and Mouth Disease has been a challenge for many years. This vaccination was in place even before I was born. It’s vital for the health of our livestock and the quality of our products. We need to stop the politics and focus on what benefits the country,” Ruto continued.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki recently highlighted that while the vaccination exercise has been in place, only about 10% of the country’s livestock have received the vaccine. To meet international meat export standards, this percentage needs to rise to at least 90%.
“It is critical that we control diseases in our livestock. Many of our livestock are rejected on the international market due to lack of proper vaccination. This is purely a disease control issue,” said Kindiki.
Foot-and-mouth disease, which affects cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, is caused by the Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and can significantly impact the livestock industry. With the vaccination exercise, the government aims to protect the health of Kenyan livestock and open up more opportunities for export, boosting the nation’s economy.
This comes as Deputy President Kithure Kindiki urged Kenyans and leaders not to politicize the livestock vaccination campaign. He emphasized that the government will not mandate vaccination, describing it as a voluntary process.
“We have found a very big market for our livestock in the Middle East and Europe, but these foreign countries have told us that for our livestock and meat to be accepted in their markets, they must all be vaccinated,” Kindiki said.
“We have been vaccinating our livestock, but only 10 percent have been vaccinated in Kenya. We are urging you not to politicize matters relating to the health of our livestock as a country. This vaccination drive is a voluntary process; no one will be forced to do it,” he added.
Kindiki further called on Kenyans to cooperate and ensure that livestock are vaccinated so that the quality and prices of meat can meet international standards.
On November 9, President William Ruto announced an ambitious plan to vaccinate 72 million livestock starting in January. This program aims to cover 22 million cattle and 50 million goats and sheep.
“This will ensure we access both national and international markets for our livestock products,” President Ruto said.
However, the announcement of the vaccination drive has been met with mixed reactions from Kenyans, with some opposing the move. The Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) has called on the government to suspend the vaccination initiative and allow for public participation.
KVA National Chairman Kelvin Osore raised concerns about the lack of consultation during the program’s development. He stressed that the issues raised by the government regarding greenhouse gas emissions were not a priority for the public. Osore further called for transparency on the diseases targeted, the reasoning behind the vaccination program, and the identity of the program’s sponsors.
“There was no stakeholder engagement. We were not involved after the program received controversy from the public. We were not involved in its conception,” Osore stated.
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