President William Ruto's ambitious nationwide livestock vaccination campaign, launched with great fanfare in November 2024, has stalled due to major logistical failures, funding shortages and lack of stakeholder involvement.
Now, veterinary doctors warn that unless urgent adjustments are made, the initiative meant to protect millions of animals from deadly diseases could be permanently derailed. "The government launched the campaign with inadequate stakeholder engagement, public sensitization, and a clear implementation plan.
This lack of readiness has led to operational inefficiencies," said Dr Kelvin Osore, National Chairman of the Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA), in a memo to veterinary doctors dated March 10 this year.
The ambitious programme was aimed to vaccinate 22 million cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and 50 million sheep and goats against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR).
