Why Ruto's livestock vaccination campaign is drawing criticism from veterinarians

 

President William Ruto's ambitious nationwide livestock vaccination campaign, launched with great fanfare in November 2024, has stalled due to major logistical failures, funding shortages, and a lack of stakeholder involvement.

Now, veterinary doctors warn that unless urgent adjustments are made, the initiative meant to protect millions of animals from deadly diseases could be permanently derailed.

“The government launched the campaign with inadequate stakeholder engagement, public sensitisation, and a clear implementation plan. This lack of readiness has led to operational inefficiencies,” said Dr. Kelvin Osore, National Chairman of the Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA), in a memo to veterinary doctors dated March 10 this year.

The doctors, in an internal memo leaked to The Standard, were responding to media reports from March 20 in which the government announced that 500,000 cattle had been vaccinated against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) across 36 counties since the launch of the national vaccination campaign — roughly 10,000 animals per day.

"The government intends to implement the vaccination programme to protect livestock through national, regional, and global strategies aimed at controlling and eradicating FMD," said Dr. Allan Azegele, Director of Veterinary Services.

The ambitious programme aimed to vaccinate 22 million cattle against FMD and 50 million sheep and goats against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR). Introduced at the Maa Cultural Festival in Samburu County, the government allocated Sh1 billion to restock livestock lost to drought, including the purchase of 55,000 goats and sheep for affected families. It also pledged to complete leather industrial parks in Kajiado and Narok to reduce leather wastage.

Then-Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja assured farmers that vaccines would be locally sourced from the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI), which produces up to 75 million doses annually. He urged full participation, calling the program a “game-changer” for the livestock sector.

“We need to trade the animals for meat, and to do so, we need to create a disease-free country. That is why we are advocating for the vaccination of our animals,” Karanja said while touring KEVEVAPI in December last year to assess preparations.

The FMD campaign is part of a broader animal health programme designed to control a disease that has severely affected livestock and triggered quarantines in several counties.

However, within weeks of its launch, veterinary doctors say the campaign began to falter. In their internal document titled Situational Analysis of the National Livestock Vaccination Campaign, they concluded that the campaign has effectively collapsed.

"We don't know where the government is getting [these] numbers," said doctors who requested anonymity.

Veterinary experts say the programme was rushed without adequate planning, and that severe logistical and financial shortcomings made large-scale vaccinations impossible. County veterinary officials report that vaccinators have not been paid, there is a shortage of essential protective equipment, and transport operations have been hampered by fuel shortages.

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"There was insufficient funding hindering logistics such as payment of vaccinators, procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), and fuel for transport operations, among others. The failure to address these financial gaps has stalled the campaign, highlighting inadequate preparedness, rushed implementation, and ineffective stakeholder coordination," KVA stated.

Moreover, the exclusion of key stakeholders has further weakened the campaign. Many farmers, veterinarians, and county governments were not fully involved in planning, leading to poor execution on the ground.

“You cannot implement a nationwide vaccination campaign without engaging those who are directly responsible for livestock health,” said a senior veterinary officer who requested anonymity.

The doctors, who dismissed government claims that the nationwide livestock vaccination was taking place, said that controversy around the campaign has deepened due to political interference. Some politicians and veterinary experts have raised questions about transparency in vaccine procurement and the government’s commitment to its own promises. However, Ruto dismissed the critics, accusing them of deliberately sabotaging a critical national project.

“Honestly, how else can you explain [it]? If you don’t know about livestock, shut up—at least for those of us who keep cattle,” the president said. “There is an evil spirit among Kenyans; they oppose everything by spreading lies. Anybody opposing vaccination to eliminate FMD and PPR is simply mad, unreasonable, and possibly stupid.”

These remarks have done little to reassure stakeholders, who insist the government must address the programme’s fundamental weaknesses rather than attack those raising concerns.

With the campaign now effectively stalled, veterinary doctors are calling for a comprehensive review of the initiative. The KVA has outlined several urgent recommendations to salvage the programme and ensure its long-term success.

"The lack of funds to cover basic operational expenses points to deeper issues in resource allocation and financial planning," said Osore.

First, they emphasise the need for public sensitisation to counter misinformation and increase farmer participation. Many farmers remain skeptical due to poor government communication, and experts argue that awareness efforts must be intensified.

Second, KVA urges the government to improve stakeholder engagement by involving veterinary professionals, farmers, and county administrations in both planning and execution. The rushed rollout without proper coordination has been a major factor in the programme’s failure.

They are also calling for improved logistics and resource allocation to ensure vaccinators are paid promptly, necessary equipment is available, and fuel shortages do not hinder transportation.

KVA is pushing for increased veterinary staffing to address the acute shortage of veterinarians in the public sector. Many counties lack enough professionals to administer vaccines effectively, leading to delays and inefficiencies.

Additionally, veterinary experts recommend private sector collaboration to enhance efficiency. Engaging private vaccine manufacturers and veterinary service providers would ensure a steady supply of vaccines and streamline service delivery.

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"Capacity building for KEVEVAPI and DVS: These key bodies should be given the necessary resources and capacity to effectively manage the vaccination campaign," KVA said.

Finally, they stress the need to depoliticise the campaign, keeping technical experts at the forefront of disease control efforts rather than allowing political figures to dictate implementation.

“The vaccination campaign should be handled by technical experts rather than political figures to ensure that it remains focused on public health and disease control, free from political interference,” KVA stated.

Despite the initial promise of the vaccination campaign, the setbacks have raised concerns about the government’s ability to handle large-scale public health initiatives for livestock. If the programme remains stalled, experts warn that Kenya risks major outbreaks of FMD and PPR, which could devastate the livestock sector, particularly in pastoralist communities.

“The Kenya Veterinary Association remains committed to supporting the vaccination campaign, but the government must address these concerns before moving forward,” said Dr. Osore. “Effective disease control can only be achieved through proper planning, resource allocation, and collaboration with all parties involved.”