The government has revealed plans to overhaul the country’s animal vaccination process, a decision set to impact livestock farmers across the nation.
On Wednesday, June 4, President William Ruto announced the introduction of an e-voucher system for animal vaccination, describing it as a step toward meaningful reforms in the vital livestock sector.
President Ruto made the announcement following a meeting with the Council of Governors (CoG), emphasizing that the new e-vaccination system would enable the government to track vaccinated animals and improve record-keeping for livestock owners.
“We hosted governors to consult and assess the progress of key intergovernmental development initiatives,” he stated.
“We will also strengthen animal traceability by registering livestock farmers and rolling out the e-voucher system for animal vaccination,” Ruto added.
He noted that the initiative is modeled after the ongoing e-voucher fertilizer subsidy program, which has already been put into practice.
Under the e-voucher fertilizer program, farmers enroll in the system and are issued digital vouchers, which they can use to buy subsidized fertilizer at designated outlets such as National Cereals and Produce Board depots or approved agro-vet stores.
To access these vouchers, farmers must first register through the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management System (KIAMS). Once registered, they receive e-vouchers via SMS or other digital platforms.
A key advantage of the system is its centralized database, which helps ensure that each farmer receives the correct allocation of fertilizer. The government now aims to replicate this model in its upcoming livestock vaccination campaign.
As part of this initiative, the government plans to vaccinate 22 million cattle and 50 million goats and sheep. Despite facing significant public criticism, President Ruto defended the campaign, saying it is essential for combating foot-and-mouth disease and peste des petits ruminants (PPR).
However, the Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) opposed the rollout, citing four key risks they believe justify delaying the mass vaccination effort.
