Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi /HANDOUTThe Kiambu County Government has dismissed claims linking its piglet distribution programme to the outbreak of African Swine Fever.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the county government stressed that the programme had maintained a strong record of animal health management and continued to support farmers across the county.
The county said the initiative, spearheaded by Governor Kimani Wamatangi, is implemented in partnership with Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), a government-owned agricultural research institution.
According to the county, all piglets distributed under the programme are sourced from KALRO to ensure beneficiaries receive breeding stock from an institution that adheres to established animal health and breeding standards.
“Therefore, attempts to link the Kiambu County Government piglets programme to the outbreak of African Swine Fever is directly saying KALRO, which is a national government parastatal, has been breeding and distributing infected piglets, which is definitely untrue,” the county said.
The statement followed claims seeking to associate the county’s piglet distribution programme with cases of African Swine Fever, a transboundary animal disease that affects pig populations in several African countries.
The county government maintained that African Swine Fever remains a national animal health challenge and is not unique to Kiambu County.
It said attempts to associate the disease with its piglet programme were "false and misleading", arguing that such claims ignored the sourcing measures used in the initiative.
The county further warned that the claims could create unnecessary concern among residents and beneficiaries of the programme, particularly farmers who rely on pig farming for their livelihoods.
The programme, according to the county government, has so far benefited more than 70,000 men and youth across Kiambu county by enabling households to venture into commercial pig farming.
The county said beneficiaries had established pig farming enterprises, with the programme contributing to efforts aimed at improving household incomes and livelihoods.
It described the initiative as one of the county government's major economic empowerment programmes, arguing that its impact could be seen among beneficiaries involved in commercial pig farming across the county.
The county government also accused unnamed individuals of politicising the issue in an attempt to undermine the programme and its reported economic benefits.
“Unfortunately, some individuals appear determined to politicise the issue and undermine a programme that has delivered tangible economic benefits to thousands of families,” the statement said.
It maintained that such criticism would not diminish what it described as the achievements of the initiative or its impact on beneficiaries.
It further reiterated that its piglets are sourced from KALRO, which it described as a credible and reputable national institution.
Residents and beneficiaries were urged to consider the sourcing arrangements when assessing claims linking its piglet programme to African Swine Fever.
African Swine Fever is a viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. It does not infect humans but can cause significant losses among pig farmers when outbreaks occur.
