Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura speaking on January 29, 2025/HANDOUTThe government has measures to control and manage the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak, government spokesman Isaac Mwaura has said.
Mwaura said an outbreak has been reported in Kakamega, West Pokot, and Trans Nzoia Counties.
The outbreak in Trans Nzoia was reported in November 2024 in Cherangany, Kwanza, Kiminini, Saboti, and Endebess Sub-Counties.
He said samples were taken and submitted to the National FMD Referral Laboratory for analysis, where the type O serotype was isolated.
According to the spokesman, the outbreak was reported in the Chepararia area of West Pokot County in January 2025, while the reported cases in Kakamega were in Shinyalu and Malava Sub-Counties.
The Kakamega outbreak was diagnosed clinically and is awaiting laboratory confirmation.
As a result, the spokesman said, the government has invoked control measures as stipulated in the Animal Diseases Control Act (Cap 364) to control and manage the outbreaks.
“A quarantine has consequently been imposed on the movement of the animals in the affected areas to prevent further spread of the disease,” he said.
The spokesman said that Shinyalu and Lubao livestock markets in Kakamega county, Chepareria livestock markets in West Pokot county, and Sikhendu and Sibanga livestock markets in Trans Nzoia county have been closed indefinitely.
He said that ring vaccination is being carried out in the areas ahead of the national vaccination exercise.
In Kakamega county, 2,500 heads of cattle, 200 sheep and goats, and 19 pigs have been vaccinated, while the veterinary department in Trans Nzoia County has received 4, 000 doses of the FMD vaccines and plans to roll out the vaccination in due course.
The spokesman said farmers are being encouraged to continue vaccinating their flocks privately.
The FMD is a highly contagious viral infection causing substantial losses in milk production, reproduction, and growth.
The Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) affects sheep and goats, with infection rates running up to 90 per cent with mortality rates of up to 70 per cent.
Mwaura said the perennial livestock disease outbreaks in the country are a major setback to the livestock sub-sector as it threatens not only the health of millions of animals but also the livelihoods of farmers and the broader economy.
To avert this, he said, the government is in the final stages of rolling out a national livestock vaccination program.
Mwaura said a livestock vaccination programme is essential considering that recurrent outbreaks of diseases such as FMD, lumpy skin disease, pneumonia, and anthrax have hindered farmers from fully exploiting the lucrative European and Middle East export markets.
“Strict health regulations and safety concerns have kept Kenyan livestock products from reaching their potential in these markets, and we must attain better standards if the recently signed trade agreements for livestock products have to hold. This has created bottlenecks, stifling the country’s growth and the sector’s ability to unlock its economic promise,” he said.
He said FMD and PPR are classified as “trade-sensitive” Transboundary animal diseases by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).
The level of Kenya’s prevention and control status of these diseases determines if Kenya’s livestock and livestock products can access international markets.
The government is rolling out a nationwide immunization exercise targeting 22 million cattle against FMD and 50 million sheep and goats against PPR.
He said the initiative aims to open up lucrative export markets while ensuring food security, economic stability, and enhanced farmer earnings.
“The government reiterates that The National Livestock Vaccination Programme is voluntary and no farmer will be forced to have their flock vaccinated. The vaccines to be used for this program are locally manufactured by the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (Kevevapi), ensuring high safety and efficacy standards,” he added.
To address challenges in the livestock sector, the government has introduced a livestock insurance policy to protect farmers from losses during droughts and calamities, he added.
Mwaura added that measures have also been put in place to stimulate commercial feed production, addressing the current annual feed deficit of 60 per cent (33 million metric tons) and reducing the 40 per cent post-harvest feed losses.
He said the government is also developing an Animal Identification and Traceability System (ANITRAC) to further advance the sector.
This system will improve market access for livestock and livestock products as well as enable producers to access credit.
