Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has explained further on the need to vaccinate livestock, a move that has faced opposition amongst a section of Kenyans.
Speaking Thursday, the Deputy President said the mass vaccination meant well for livestock farmers and its products in terms of boosting the countries market world wide.
“What the Government is saying about vaccination is that we have certain targets as a country to grow the livestock and that value chain around livestock and livestock products for us to reach those targets, we need to access European markets, the Middle East market and even the regional market under the African Free Trade Area,” said Kindiki.
In his first media interview 50-days after assuming power as the countries third Deputy President, DP Kindiki clarified to Kenyans that vaccination of livestock has been carried out for the past 40 years.
He noted that Kenyans were against it because of the vaccination question saying its sole purpose was meant to gain market access for livestock and livestock products.
According to DP Kindiki, Kenya has only managed to vaccinate only 10pc of livestock and they intend to push it further to more than 80pc to export more products.
“The vaccination program has always been there for 40 years. We’ve been vaccinating about 10% of livestock. So many of our livestock are rejected when we take them out either as live animals or beef because of the vaccination question,” he said.
“The vaccine has developed by Kenyan scientists. It has always been used. We are doing the campaign for purposes of getting market access, exporting livestock and livestock products even to other countries,” he added.
Although the program has faced criticism, Kindiki faulted the mode of the mode of communication from the Government’s side in ensuring that citizens understand the benefits of the vaccination programme roll out set for January 2025.
“We agree that we need to create awareness and also just carry citizens along in our programs. As Government, we need to continue communicating to the people in a manner that is consistent with our obligation under the Constitution,” the DP stated.
The Government intends to vaccinate 22 million cattle and 50 million goats and sheep to prevent animal diseases and thus secure the international market for livestock products.
“This will ensure we access both national and international markets for our livestock products,” President William Ruto said in Samburu during the Maa Cultural Festival held last month at the Samburu National Reserve.
