Agriculture and Livestock Development CS nominee Mutahi
Kagwe has said that the national livestock vaccination exercise will remain
voluntary should he be approved.
Kagwe who spoke on Tuesday, when he appeared for vetting said that the cows and goats belong to people, not the government, and therefore, no one will be forced.
“The point of the matter is that the cow belongs to an individual, not government. The goat belongs to an individual, not the government. The matter is simple. Here is a vaccine for foot and mouth disease. You have a goat. Do you want the goat to be vaccinated? You say yes, we vaccinate. You say no, we don’t vaccinate,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary nominee, however, noted that the government will sensitize all stakeholders on the reasons as to why the government is undertaking the vaccination process.
He said that part of the sensitization will also include details of where the vaccine is produced and its benefits.
“My understanding is that the whole vaccination process is to address two diseases, PPR and Foot and mouth disease. The most important thing is to involve all stakeholders and say it’s a vaccine made by Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (Kevevapi) and it is for this and this purpose.”
Kagwe was the first nominee to appear for vetting on Tuesday.
He will be followed by William Kabogo, the ICT and Digital economy nominee and Lee Kinyanjui the CS nominee for Investments, Trade and Industry.
During vetting Kagwe responded to various questions raised by the vetting Committee chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula as he also laid out his plan for the Ministry, should he be approved.
