President William Ruto has vowed to continue with the planned vaccination of bovine animals despite opposition from a section of leaders.
Speaking during the annual Kimalel goat auction in Baringo County on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, Ruto stated that the purpose of the vaccination was to make the animal products comply with international standards of disease control and not to prevent flatulence as his detractors say.
“I want to ask leaders who have no knowledge and understanding to spare us their ignorance because they can’t continue to mislead the country,” Ruto said.
“So that we can access markets and get better prices for our farmers, it is important that we stick to international standards of disease control and that is why we are conducting a national campaign on vaccination so as to reduce disease prevalence.”
Mueke allays vaccination fears
Principal Secretary in the state Department for Livestock Development and former Nairobi County Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke allayed fears that the vaccination was fronted by American tech billionaire Bill Gates, noting that all the vaccinations are made in Kenya by local scientists.
“That the exercise is from Bill Gates and is to vaccinate bovine animals against flatulence is propaganda,” Mueke said.
“Cows will be vaccinated against foot and mouth disease while goats and sheep will get the BER jab,” Mueke said, adding that already the exercise was ongoing in some areas and had reached 10 per cent against the 86 per cent required for herd immunity.
Ichung’wah weighs in
Leader of the Majority party in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah also weighed in on the matter, urging residents of Baringo to avail their cattle for vaccination.
“Take your cattle to be vaccinated; do not listen to detractors of government programmes. The greatest challenge in our country is not even the negativity you hear. All the people you hear opposing the Social Health Authority (SHA) and vaccination of livestock are leaders who are rudderless, clueless and have no vision for this country. All they seek to do is politicise each and every government programme,” Ichung’wah said.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki also urged livestock keepers to embrace the vaccination exercise planned by the state, noting that it was for their greater good.
“Vaccination of livestock is for the benefit of the health of your cows and goats and also to ensure they fetch the right prices for you,” Kindiki said.
