Vaccinating livestock will create more wealth for herders – Kindiki

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said that the nationwide livestock vaccination exercise will create more wealth for herders.

Speaking during a consultative meeting with leaders from Isiolo County on the implementation of state projects, Kindiki said that this is the main reason the vaccination exercise was rolled out.

He noted that Kenya is the third largest livestock-keeping country in Africa but cannot export its animal products because of the risk of some diseases.

The Deputy President insisted that only vaccination would unlock this hold-up.

“Kenya has the third largest livestock herd in Africa, after Sudan and Somalia. We have 22 million cows and 50 million small stocks; goats and sheep. We must vaccinate all our livestock to help create wealth and get maximum returns for our herders and livestock keepers," Kindiki said.

“We have great market openings abroad but we cannot export our meat and milk products if our animals have disease doubts. Vaccination will resolve this problem." 

He went on to say that with the vaccination, the government is also looking at leather products value chains from the livestock, which experts have said has more value as opposed to meat and milk products.

The DP said the vaccination will also improve the quality of the leather.

“It is not just meat and milk products. We are also looking at the leather products value chain. Experts have shown us that leather has ten times more value than meat yet a lot of this leather is sold at throwaway prices of 20 shillings per kilo or even thrown to dogs and hyenas.

“If we vaccinate our animals, their hides are of better quality and we can add value to the hides, make it leather and produce leather products like shoes, belts, and bags, among others.”

Kindiki said currently, the leather sector gives an annual income of Sh10 billion but with the completion and operationalization of the Kinanie Leather Industrial Park, the income will rise to Sh150 billion yearly.

He added that various international designer brands have already shown interest in setting up shop in the leather industrial park after the government called for an Expression of Interest.

The nationwide vaccination exercise is voluntary.