A government plan to launch a nationwide livestock vaccination campaign in January has drawn sharp criticism from large-scale dairy farmers in Rift Valley. The farmers have dismissed the initiative as unnecessary and a potential avenue for misuse of public funds. They are urging the government to instead allocate resources to improving healthcare through the Social Health Authority (SHA).
During a meeting in Eldoret, farmers’ representatives, including Thomas Bowen, Thomas Korogoren, Daniel Mburu, and Abraham Murei, expressed their dissatisfaction with the vaccination plan. They questioned the rationale behind the move, citing an absence of significant livestock health challenges.
Bowen labeled the vaccination campaign “suspect” and alleged that it was a scheme to benefit a select group at the expense of the public. “We are tired of the tendency by this government to force everything on us,” he said. He called on the government to consult stakeholders before implementing policies that affect farmers directly.
Korogoren highlighted the pressing issues in the agriculture sector, including the low prices of maize, the proliferation of fake seeds, and concerns over the sustainability of the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (New KCC). “All sectors, including agriculture, are collapsing, and we wonder where the government is taking us. This vaccination plan is misplaced,” he said.
Mburu criticized the government for overlooking healthcare challenges. He argued that improving the SHA would have a more meaningful impact on Kenyans. “People are dying due to a lack of quality healthcare. The focus should be on saving lives, not vaccinating animals unnecessarily,” he said.
Murei emphasized the financial strain farmers are facing, with milk prices failing to cover production costs. He called for urgent measures to address broader agricultural issues, including food security concerns arising from the distribution of fake seeds and fertilizers.
Despite these objections, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja has defended the vaccination drive, which targets over 22 million livestock. Karanja argued that the campaign is crucial for protecting animals from communicable diseases such as foot and mouth disease, which have hindered livestock productivity.
“This vaccination drive will benefit the entire country by preventing disease outbreaks that have plagued certain counties,” Karanja said. He explained that isolated vaccination efforts at the county level had been ineffective, necessitating a national approach.
Karanja assured farmers and the public that the vaccines, to be produced locally by the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (Kevevapi), would be safe and of high quality. He dismissed claims of foreign interference in the initiative, calling them baseless and misleading.
President William Ruto also weighed in, criticizing those opposed to the vaccination campaign. He emphasized that the program would significantly enhance livestock health and boost productivity.
However, the debate has gained political traction, with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka warning of potential hidden agendas behind the initiative. Kalonzo alleged that the campaign might alter the genetic structure of local livestock breeds, resulting in unforeseen consequences for human health and pastoral livelihoods.
“These vaccines could lead to the deterioration of livelihoods in pastoralist communities and expose humans to industrial meats with unexplored side effects,” Kalonzo claimed, urging Kenyans to reject the exercise.
As January approaches, tensions between the government and farmers continue to rise. While the government insists the vaccination drive is a necessary step for the country’s livestock industry, farmers in Rift Valley remain steadfast in their opposition, demanding greater accountability and a shift in priorities toward pressing agricultural and healthcare challenges.
