No livestock farmer will be coerced to vaccinate their cattle: Kagwe
Agriculture CS nominee Mutahi Kagwe has pledged to address misconceptions surrounding the government’s flagship cattle vaccination project
Agriculture CS nominee Mutahi Kagwe has pledged to address misconceptions surrounding the government’s flagship cattle vaccination project through effective communication to counter negative narratives and misinformation.
Appearing for vetting before the National Assembly Committee on Appointment, Kagwe promised to engage all stakeholders in the vaccination exercise, spearheaded by the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute, if approved.
Critics have questioned the effectiveness of the vaccines, with some livestock farmers expressing concerns though unsupported by evidence that the vaccination program could harm their herds.
“We talked about social media and how it can propagate propaganda. The most important thing is to involve industry stakeholders, including MPs, and share accurate information,” Kagwe stated.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has set an ambitious target to vaccinate 22 million cattle and 50 million sheep and goats.
Kagwe clarified to the House committee that no livestock farmer would be coerced into vaccinating their animals, explaining that participation would be voluntary.
“The cow belongs to an individual, not the government. It’s simple: here is a vaccine for foot and mouth disease. Do you want your goat vaccinated? If yes, we will vaccinate it. If not, that’s fine,” he said.
He stated that effective communication will fast track progress on the cattle vaccination which aims to deal with anthrax, foot and mouth disease, rift valley fever, African swine fever and rinderpest diseases that affect livestock in Kenya.
“There’s no farmer who is going to refuse to protect his herd is alternative is if the herd is going to die. What has been missing is communication of what’s at stake if they are not vaccinated and that choices have consequences,”
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The Agriculture nominee promised to establish a robust communication system led by experts to strengthen the fight against livestock diseases and prepare cattle for foreign markets.
“I will work with experts at the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute, much like we did during the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide clear explanations alongside veterinary officers,” Kagwe explained.
The Ministry has assured livestock owners that the vaccines are safe and locally produced. President William Ruto has criticized opponents of the vaccination program, arguing that they are hindering livestock owners from accessing international markets.
According to the World Health Organization, animal vaccination is essential for preventing and controlling the spread of these diseases.
The Ministry of Agriculture reports that only 10% of animals have been vaccinated so far. It emphasizes that the vaccination rate needs to increase to 85% to make livestock products eligible for export.
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