A recent report by the National Treasury has exposed a glaring contradiction between the Kenyan government’s promises and actions.
Despite President William Ruto’s directive to launch a national livestock vaccination programme, the Treasury has not allocated any funds for the initiative in the financial year starting July 2024.
This omission raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to addressing critical issues affecting millions of Kenyans dependent on livestock farming.
The State Department of Livestock had requested Sh4.6 billion for the programme’s first year, with an estimated total cost of Sh21 billion over five years.The initiative aims to vaccinate 22 million cattle and 50 million goats against foot-and-mouth disease and peste des petits ruminants, both of which pose significant threats to Kenya’s livestock and export market.
However, the Treasury’s refusal to allocate funds casts doubt on the programme’s feasibility and highlights a disconnect between presidential directives and actual government action.
The State Department has warned of dire consequences if the vaccination programme is not implemented.
These include increased livestock mortality, restricted market access, and severe economic losses for farmers and the country. Furthermore, the department pointed out that ignoring the directive undermines the president’s credibility and signals poor governance.
The Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (Kevevapi), tasked with producing the vaccines, is also in a precarious position.
Despite assurances from outgoing Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja about Kevevapi’s capacity, the institute has been allocated a mere Sh70 million for the upcoming financial year far below its Sh197.5 million requirement.
With outdated facilities and insufficient funding, Kevevapi’s ability to meet vaccine production demands is highly questionable.
The Livestock Department has emphasized the urgent need for upgrades, but these pleas appear to have fallen on deaf ears.
Public confidence in the programme is already low.
Critics, including professional bodies, have raised concerns about its true motives, with some alleging it is part of a climate change agenda targeting methane emissions from livestock.
The Kenya Veterinary Association has called for a pause on the programme until these concerns are addressed and public sensitization is conducted.
This pushback reflects the government’s failure to engage stakeholders and build trust around the initiative.
The lack of funding not only jeopardizes Kenya’s livestock but also threatens its lucrative export markets, especially in Gulf states such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.
Official data shows that the value of exported live animals increased by 65.8% to Sh2.895 billion in a recent period.
Failing to implement the vaccination programme could undo these gains and further damage Kenya’s reputation as a reliable exporter.
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