The National Government will soon commence engagements with county governments on how to address the issues surrounding vaccination of animals to combat diseases such as Foot and Mouth.
Speaking in Nakuru on Tuesday, Principal Secretary State Department for Livestock Harry Kimtai while admitting that there have been challenges in matters animal vaccination said that engagement with all the counties will help address the same.
According to the PS, the challenge of vaccination in the country has been occasioned by the fact that some counties are doing it while others fail to do so hence addressing diseases becomes a challenge.
He says with the new move, counties collectively will have an agreement on the model to be used when it comes to matters vaccination.
“We know the challenges of animal diseases and especially foot and mouth disease. As National Government, we shall be engaging counties to develop a model on how we can go about vaccination” said the PS.
There has always been a stand-off between the National government and the counties over who should administer the vaccines despite the sector having been devolved but with policies remaining with the National government.
However, the PS said that this is a matter under discussion to find amicable solution on the same.
While noting that Kibabii University will be developing a vaccine, the PS lauded Kakamega County for collaborating with the Institution on matters animal health and called on other counties to emulate the same.
“We need to talk about the issue of vaccination of animal whether to be done by the National government or the counties. But I want to assure you that Kibabii University will develop a vaccine” said PS who spoke at the Naivasha-based Dairy Training Institute during the Small Holder Dairy Commercialization Programme National Exit Workshop.
The SDCP program that is coming to its conclusion was funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in partnership with the Government of Kenya and has benefited farmers in 9 counties of implementation.
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