A section of livestock farmers in Trans Nzoia County has said they will not allow their animals to be part of the planned government’s mass vaccination programme set to begin in January 2025.
Led by Fredrick Rono, a farmer in the Kibomet area of the Kiminini Constituency, the farmers said most of them had not been properly sensitized about the campaign.
“So far, no public participation has been done, and we do not know why the government is in such a hurry to vaccinate our animals. I will accept my animals to be vaccinated once I am convinced,” Rono said.
Do farmers need more information about vaccination plan?
The farmer argued that the government should use National Government Administration Officers (NGAO) to sensitize them about the programme, which has been opposed by a section of leaders led by Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
“The whole thing is marred with dirty politics. In the past, we used to get information from chiefs and assistant chiefs but nowadays politicians are doing everything and that is why we don’t trust this vaccination,” he stated.
Geoffrey Kirui, a small-scale dairy farmer in Saboti Constituency said he does not have confidence in the vaccines.
“The involvement of Bill Gates in this campaign is very suspicious. No matter how much the government tries to convince us, I will not accept this programme. Again, I will not drink milk from a vaccinated cow or eat the meat of a vaccinated animal,” Kirui noted.
However, John Komen, a dairy farmer in the Kapsitwet area of Kwanza sub-County said he is ready to have all his animals vaccinated as soon as the programme starts.
“I think this programme is very important to us. Despite the politics associated with mass vaccination, the entire exercise is meant to protect our animals and help improve the quality of our milk and also meat,” Komen stated.
Why government wants to vaccinate livestock
Speaking on Tuesday, 17 December 2024 during the annual Kimalel Goat Auction in Baringo County, President William Ruto said the nationwide vaccination will continue as planned despite opposition.
Ruto said vaccination is meant to control diseases and called on Kenyans to disregard propaganda and fake news peddled by detractors.
“Leaders who have no understanding of the livestock sector should not use fake news and propaganda to convince our farmers not to vaccinate their animals,” the President said.
The government targets to vaccinate 22 million cattle, 50 million sheep as well as goats using vaccines manufactured by the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Insitute (KEVEVAPI).
Ruto Defends Planned Livestock Vaccination, Says it Will Boost Animal Health and Meat Exports
