Surgeons now back Veterinary Bill

By Peter Orengo

A day after agricultural professionals asked President Kibaki not to assent to the Veterinary Bill, veterinary surgeons say the Bill will weed out quacks.

Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) yesterday said the Veterinary Bill is meant to replace the Veterinary Surgeons Act Cap 366, which regulates the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery.

"The Veterinary Bill will regulate animal health services by restoring sanity in the livestock sector which for years has been exploited by quacks," said KVA national chair Elizabeth Ouko.

Kenya Society for Agricultural Professionals (Kesap) claimed that the Bill was mutilated and strange clauses introduced at the committee stage, transforming it into a totally different entity.

Kesap wants the Bill to be discussed by agricultural stakeholders before the President assents to it.

Professional experience

But Dr Ouko claimed that her counterparts were dishonest in rejecting the Bill. She said it was another way of impunity fighting back positive change in the country.

"Those responsible for disorder in the livestock sector are now fighting back with distortions. We have to protect the farmer’s interests, guarantee food safety and animal welfare while ensuring the livestock industry supports economic growth and family livelihoods," said Ouko. She said the livestock sector has been vibrant and profitable to farmers since 1900 when the colonial government created veterinary services in Kenya, up to 1980s when the Government abandoned livestock rearing areas.

In the confusion, beneficiaries in the livestock sector were paraprofessionals who lacked professional experience on treatment of animals.

If the President makes the bill law, Ouko argues, farmers will be able to identify suitable persons who offer animal health services under acceptable conditions.

The law also supports the internationally recognised competent technical authority structures that will enable trade with other countries, after carrying out an export risk analysis for animals and products.

At the moment Kenya does not export livestock products after the European Union ban in the 1990s for safety standards.