Silverio Omari
Large-scale dairy farmers in Rift Valley have voiced strong opposition to the government’s plan to begin vaccinating livestock in January, labeling the initiative as “suspect” and “unnecessary.”
The farmers argue that the government is overstepping by mandating vaccinations when they have not reported any issues or diseases affecting their livestock. They are calling for the cancellation of the plan and the reallocation of the funds to improve the Social Health Authority, so that all Kenyans can access better healthcare.
Representatives from the farming community, including Thomas Bowen, Thomas Korogoren, Daniel Mburu, and Abraham Murei, spoke out during a meeting in Eldoret.
“We don’t understand why the government is insisting on vaccinating all livestock. This feels like a scheme by some individuals to profit at our expense. We are tired of the government imposing decisions on us,” Bowen said, suggesting that the vaccination push was motivated by self-interest.
Bowen emphasized the need for the government to consult with farmers and the wider public on policies that affect them, criticizing the current approach.
Korogoren added that the government should prioritize more urgent agricultural issues, such as the low prices of maize, the distribution of fake seeds and fertilizer, and the struggling New KCC dairy cooperative, rather than focus on animal vaccinations.
“When we look at the broader situation, all sectors, including agriculture, are failing, and it’s unclear where the government is taking us. We seem to be heading in the wrong direction,” Korogoren stated.
Mburu expressed frustration with the vaccination plan, explaining that farmers already vaccinate their livestock as needed. He called attention to the more pressing issue of healthcare, stating that people are dying due to inadequate medical services and questioning why the government was not prioritizing their wellbeing instead of focusing on livestock.
Murei agreed, stating that animal vaccination is not a priority at the moment. He highlighted the financial struggles farmers face, citing the low price of milk compared to production costs. “Even water is more expensive than milk, and we feel undervalued as farmers,” Murei lamented.
He also raised concerns about the negative impact of fake seeds and fertilizer on the nation’s food security.
In response, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja urged Kenyans to participate in the upcoming national livestock vaccination drive, set to begin in January. He emphasized that the campaign aims to protect the health of animals across the country from communicable diseases like foot-and-mouth disease, which have been causing recurring outbreaks.
“The vaccination drive will benefit the entire country by preventing diseases that have affected livestock for years. Currently, vaccination efforts in individual counties are ineffective, which is why we’re rolling out a national initiative,” Karanja explained.
Karanja assured the public that the vaccines would be safe and of high quality, produced locally at the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (Kevevapi). He dismissed accusations from political leaders, such as Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who claimed the vaccination program was part of a foreign agenda to alter the genetic makeup of Kenyan livestock.
Musyoka raised concerns that the initiative would have detrimental effects on both the health of local livestock and the wellbeing of Kenyans, suggesting that the true impact of these vaccines had not been fully explored. He urged the public to reject the vaccination campaign, warning of potential health risks.
President William Ruto, however, defended the vaccination plan, asserting that it would greatly enhance livestock production in Kenya.
Dj Vnyash
