Thursday, December 19, 2024 - The Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) has rejected the planned vaccination of livestock by the government of President William Ruto.
In a statement,
KVA highlighted four risks warranting the postponement of the mass
vaccination exercise while supporting efforts to control livestock
diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste des Petits Ruminants
(PPR).
According to the veterinary
association, FMD and PPR hinder international trade by causing trade
restrictions, loss of market access, and damage to Kenya’s reputation as a
reliable exporter of livestock and animal products. However, the association
raised four dangers that could undermine the exercise.
“While appreciating these
clarifications and the importance of a national vaccination campaign, we must
also confront several residual issues which undermine this campaign from
inception,” KVA stated.
The first danger cited by KVA is
the credibility crisis currently facing the administration.
“This administration’s actions
since it came to power have eroded any sense of public trust that Kenyans had
in government institutions, making it hard for them to trust such government
initiatives.”
“From supplying its own farmers
with fake fertiliser to so many lies told as promises, it’s hard to blame Kenyans
when they see conspiracies in such programmes,” the statement read in part.
KVA also highlighted the lack of
public sensitisation and stakeholder engagement by the government.
Challenges stemming from devolution in veterinary services
were identified as a key impediment to the mass vaccination of cattle.
KVA flagged the politicisation
of the exercise as a red flag requiring urgent intervention.
“We strongly condemn attempts by
some politicians to politicise the vaccination campaign. Such actions distract
from the critical goal of controlling diseases and risk alienating livestock
keepers, further jeopardising any programme’s success,” KVA stated.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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