President William Ruto has vowed to continue with his plans of vaccinating millions of livestock in the country despite opposition to the initiative by a section of leaders.
Speaking during the fourth Pastoralist Leadership Summit in Wajir on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Ruto charged that the programme was an initiative that would benefit pastoralists and that people opposing it were stupid.
“Anybody opposing vaccination is simply mad, unreasonable and possibly stupid,” Ruto said.
“The vaccination is necessary because we need a disease-free livestock. I want to tell livestock keepers that there is an evil spirit in Kenya that is resident in some leaders who oppose everything.”
Meet international standards
In his remarks, Ruto revealed that the purpose of the vaccination was to ensure that livestock products from the Kenyan market met the standards for exportation to international markets, stating that for a long time, the products have fallen short of the requirement.
“We need to take charge of disease control and open up markets for our animal products. The vaccines we will be using are produced in Kenya by Kenyans,” Ruto urged.
The sentiments come in the wake of a section of leaders advising Kenyans to shun the vaccination exercise which targets 22 million heads of cattle and 50 million goats and sheep, stating that it could introduce genetic complications to local livestock.
“This will ensure we access both national and international markets for our livestock products,” Ruto said.
Kalonzo opposes vaccination
In a statement on November 15, 2024, one week after Ruto announced the mandatory vaccination while attending the Maa Cultural Week festival in Samburu County, Kalonzo rallied Kenyans to oppose the drive stating that it was spearheaded by international partners intending to do research.
“People behind this plan do not carry out the same vaccination programmes in their own nations where they have considerably more cattle than Kenya, and are therefore greater contributors to climate change. Indeed, we take note with alarm that these vaccinations developed overseas have been rejected everywhere else in the world,” Kalonzo stated.
“We urge you to oppose this nefarious act by this dangerous and unpopular regime. Pastoralists and other livestock owners have a responsibility to preserve their livestock and livelihoods. Do not allow anyone to get anywhere near your animal in the pretext of vaccination.”
The move was also opposed by Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba who stated that it was a Western agenda being pushed by foreigners on the Kenyan people.
“This is not our idea. This is a foreign idea being pushed to us with some clear intentions and deliverables. Listening to the president, it is clear that the idea is a ‘climate change’ move that is supposed to help us reduce the release of methane in the air,” Wamuchomba stated.
