Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has officially launched a nationwide livestock vaccination campaign aimed at combating transboundary diseases that threaten Kenya’s livestock sector.
Launched in Segera Ward, Laikipia County, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to protect the national herd and enhance access to both local and international markets for livestock products.
The three-year voluntary campaign will focus on biannual vaccinations for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and annual vaccinations for Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), targeting cattle, sheep, and goats. According to CS Kagwe, these transboundary diseases significantly impact livestock productivity, leading to market closures and substantial economic losses.
“Diseases such as FMD and PPR present serious threats to our livestock, causing significant productivity losses and closures of key markets,” Kagwe said. The Ministry of Agriculture estimates that these diseases result in an economic loss of approximately KSh 62 billion annually.
Recent outbreaks of FMD have already led to quarantines in counties such as Kakamega, West Pokot, and Trans Nzoia, underlining the urgency of the vaccination campaign.
The Ministry, in collaboration with county governments, is committed to eradicating these diseases through a phased and internationally recognized control strategy. This effort is aimed at securing official disease-free status from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).
The vaccines will be sourced locally from the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI), with administration carried out by county veterinary officers and private animal health service providers across the country.
