Kitui rolls out livestock vaccination drive amid worsening drought

A herd of cattle and donkeys at Kakunike in Mwingi North subcounty of Kitui county. The livestock will be vaccinated against diseases./MUSEMBI NZENGU

A departmental report shows the vaccination campaign will begin with a mass vaccination of cattle against foot-and-mouth disease.

The drive will be launched in Nuu ward, Mwingi Central subcounty, on Friday.

The programme will then be extended to the remaining 39 wards from February 2.

The vaccination drive is intended to protect livestock from the adverse effects of the ongoing severe drought that has ravaged Kitui county, leaving animals with inadequate pasture and browse as water sources continue to dry up.

The intervention follows recommendations made during a County Steering Group meeting co-chaired by county commissioner Erastus Mbui and Deputy Governor Augustine Kanani.

The December 18 meeting resolved to take urgent measures to prevent livestock deaths as the drought situation shifts from the alert to the alarm stage.

Participants were informed that the poor performance of the October–November–December rains resulted in insufficient pasture, leading to poor livestock body condition across the county.

The forum subsequently recommended a large-scale livestock vaccination campaign.

A budget of nearly Sh300,000 was approved to vaccinate 85,346 head of cattle and 203,563 goats between January and March.

Members were informed that in November last year, at least 52 head of cattle and 116 goats died from disease outbreaks, affecting about 40 households.

The meeting noted that drought effects were most severe in Mwingi North and Mwingi Central subcounties, where distances to water sources have increased to between seven and 10 kilometres.

Kitui East and Kitui South subcounties were also identified as severely affected.

The county agriculture department has urged farmers to present their livestock for vaccination, charging Sh50 per head of cattle for the foot-and-mouth disease jab. The fee was described as affordable to encourage maximum farmer participation.

“The county government will use an e-voucher system to enhance transparency and efficiency in service delivery,” agriculture and livestock executive Stephen Kimwele said.

He urged farmers to avail their livestock for vaccination, adding the department will also continue vaccinating sheep and goats against other prevalent diseases.

“The campaign will be conducted by trained veterinary officers who will administer only approved vaccines,” Kimwele said.