A dairy cow farmer looking after his cows. [Photo/softkenya]
Uasin Gishu County government says that the failure by the neighboring counties to vaccinate their livestock is the main cause of the spread of foot and mouth disease in the county.
While appearing before the county assembly committee, Agriculture Executive Cyril Cheruyiot said that the neighboring counties singling out Kakamega and Nandi to have failed to take part in the joint vaccination process.
"The challenge is that the counties have not synchronised their disease control measures, which explains the spread. We have had good collaboration with Elgeyo Marakwet," explained Dr. Cheruyiot before the agriculture committee where he had been sampled to explain the rapid spread of the disease.
Cheruyiot also told the committee that the government has failed to fuel the vehicles and thus they are finding a lot of difficulties in accessing remote areas by use of motorbikes.
"There has been a majority of outcry from the farmers who are desperate to control the spread of the disease. some are reportedly using chang'aa hoping it will treat the disease," added Cheruyiot.
Foot and mouth disease is an infection that causes sores at the hooves and mouth of the cattle making it hard for the animal to eat or chew food and thus die from starvation.
The farmers have also blamed the cattle rustlers from other counties that are trespassing to Uasin Gishu County as they search for greener pastures.