President William Ruto sparked mixed reactions on Tuesday, December 10, after calling out people opposing the countrywide livestock vaccination.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 4th Pastoralist Leadership Summit in Wajir County, Ruto wondered why someone would oppose the program, terming those against it as mad and possibly stupid.
"Anybody opposing vaccination to eliminate FMD and PPR is simply mad, unreasonable and possibly stupid. Honestly, how else can you explain," he said.
Ruto also called out a section of leaders who have been at the forefront of opposing the program which is slated for January 2025.
"There is an evil spirit in Kenya that is resident in some leaders. They churn out falsehoods and oppose everything for the sake of opposing," he added.
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Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba is among the leaders who have been campaigning against the vaccination program.
In a statement on November 28, 2024, the MP argued that the drive could have a negative outcome, adding that it was driven by external forces.
“This is not our idea. This is a foreign idea being pushed to us with some clear intentions and deliverables. Listening to the president, it is clear that the idea is a ‘climate change’ move that is supposed to help us reduce the release of methane in the air.
“The plan, which has the full support of the international research institutions wants to introduce gene-modifying drugs into Kenyan livestock in order for them to stop emitting methane into the air. This is absurd. We have had these animals for centuries. We have valued these animals as part of our heritage," she said.
The national livestock vaccination will see the vaccination of 22 million cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and 50 million sheep and goats against Peste des petits ruminants (PPR).
Speaking on December 4, 2024, Agriculture CS Andrew Karanja defended the exercise saying the livestock industry is one of the sectors with the potential to significantly contribute to economic development and job creation and therefore should be safeguarded.
“We need to trade the animals for meat and in order to do so, we need to create a disease-free country, and that is the reason we are advocating for vaccination of our animals,” he stated.
