Uasin Gishu Agriculture CeC Cyril Cheruiyot at a past event. [Photo: Facebook/ Uasin Gishu County government]
The county assembly of Uasin Gishu has been asked to come up with a livestock bill that will among other things make it mandatory for farmers to vaccinate their animals.
The bill will also provide penalty for farmers who fail to follow preventive measures for their livestock.
Speaking when he appeared before the Uasin Gishu County Assembly Agriculture and Livestock Committee on Wednesday, county's Agriculture Executive Cyril Cheruiyot said the current Foot and Mouth disease in the county is as a result of some farmers failing to vaccinate their livestock.
"There are many reasons why there's this outbreak today one of them being some farmers are reluctant to vaccinate their cows and this is why I recommended that there be a livestock bill that that will enable us punish those who fail to to take instructions to prevent the diseases," Cheruiyot told the Committee chaired by Tulwet/Chuiyat MCA Julius Songok.
The CeC further blamed neighbouring counties of Nandi and Kakamega for the spread of Foot and Mouth disease."Reports we have indicate that the two counties have never vaccinated their livestock," he said.
Several parts of Uasin Gishu county has been hit by the Foot and Mouth disease leading to declaration of quarantine and closure of livestock markets.