Livestock vaccination to open global market: Ruto

A vet vaccinates an animal during a past vaccination drive in Nyandarua County. The government is seeking to vaccinate 21 million cattle and 50 million sheep and goats starting in January. [File, Standard]

President William Ruto has defended the ongoing nationwide vaccination campaign for livestock, stating that the vaccines are safe and locally made.

The President took issue with critics opposing the programme, saying that it has no links with a recent debate claiming the vaccines were sponsored by businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates, and were meant to stop livestock from releasing foul methane gas into the environment.

"Watu wanasema ridiculous things. Eti ng'ombe akidungwa vaccine atakosa kunyamba, sisi binadamu wenye tumechanjwa tumekosa kunyamba? Vaccination is about disease control," said Ruto.

Ruto, who spoke at the Kimalel Goat Auction in Baringo South, pointed out that the vaccines are not new in the country and are also manufactured by Kenyan experts.

"What we are doing is what has been done over the years, but people have developed a tendency of opposing everything. I am telling those politicians, if you have to oppose, stop opposing policies meant to benefit Kenyans for a better life," said Ruto.

The Head of State further clarified that the vaccination was meant to allow Kenyan livestock to access the global meat market which has higher returns.

"We have secured a market in the Middle East for our meat. Those spreading propaganda, spare us. That market is strict about whether the slaughtered animal has been vaccinated," said Ruto.

Ruto was accompanied by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who called on livestock keepers across the country to ensure their livestock are vaccinated.

"Don't listen to people who want to mislead you. We all know the diseases the animals are being vaccinated against, and this is just procedural for us to have quality meat," said Kindiki.

He said that remarks by opposition leaders on the vaccines were likely to plunge the farmers into losses.

"They are politicising the matter, but when the livestock die because of a disease, you won't see them. Let us focus on making our livestock better with better returns," said Kindiki.

On his part, Livestock Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke reiterated that the vaccines were being manufactured by the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute, a State corporation, and had been approved based on safety standards.

"The vaccines include those for foot and mouth disease in cows and peste des petits ruminants for sheep and goats. The uptake currently is at ten per cent. We must reach 85 per cent for us to have better access to the international market," said Mueke.

National Assembly Majority Leader Ichung'wah said that farmers should be left to decide whether to have the vaccine administered to their livestock without being fed false information.

"A lot of falsehoods were spread about the Covid-19 vaccine, but people voluntarily accepted it to save their lives. The same applies to farmers. Be warned that those politicians misleading you not to vaccinate your animals will disappear when the livestock die of a disease," said Ichung'wah.

The sentiments were echoed by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, who said that the matter should be left as a discussion between the livestock keepers and the experts.

"The people who are talking against livestock vaccination are known to be crop farmers. It is ridiculous for them to purport to know more than the experts," said Cheruiyot.

Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi slammed Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, saying that he has no concrete basis or scientific background against which he can substantiate the claims.

"I was shocked when I heard Kalonzo talking about livestock vaccination. If people are being vaccinated, why not animals?" he posed.