Foot and mouth disease has hit Kikopey Location in Elementaita Ward, Gilgil constituency, causing heavy losses to farmers.
Thomas Masinde, an official from the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has confirmed the outbreak saying that the county government has put in place measures to contain the disease.
“The county government has set aside money to vaccinate livestock and control the disease,” said Masinde.
Masinde was speaking on Monday after touring Kikopey to ascertain the extent of the disease.
He said that there will be annual vaccination of livestock in the sub-county to contain the disease.
“Other measures put in place are disease surveillance, supporting livestock emergencies and providing extension service to the affected farmers,” said Masinde.
Masinde urged farmers to work with the county government in the health campaign to eradicate the disease.
Some of the farmers however blamed the county government of laxity in responding to their cry.
“We informed the livestock department about the outbreak of the disease but they ignored,” said Moses Njogu, a farmer.
The farmers alleged that 20 cows have died since the disease outbreak two weeks ago.
“We are witnessing at least four deaths daily,” added Edward Kamau, another farmer.