The Government has launched initiatives to enrich farmers’ livelihoods by ensuring that they receive quality sexed semen for their livestock, which will lead to quality breeds of calves.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS), Mutahi Kagwe, said that the Ministry is following a regular vaccination regime to build herd immunity, which will enable farmers to deliver high-quality and better volumes of milk and in return increase their earnings.
Speaking during the Veterinarian of the Year Award (VOYA) Ceremony, held at the Hyatt Regency Westlands, Nairobi, Kagwe emphasised that the Ministry is working effortlessly to fully implement the quality-based milk pricing, which will be anchored on strong animal health supported by veterinary services.
“The Ministry is working to strengthen the livestock sector by embracing digitally driven systems, such as the Animal Identification and Traceability System, the Kenya Integrated Agricultural Data Management Information System, the DRIVE Livestock Insurance programme and the development of the Leather Industrial Park at Kinanie, which is expected to be commissioned in early 2026,” said Kagwe.
The CS explained that under DRIVE, already 238,000 farmers from the pastoralist communities have insured their animals, where over 2.7 million animals have been insured. This alone places the market value of the insured animals at Sh29.3 billion.
Kagwe lauded the Kenya veterinary professionals for their indispensable contribution to national development, describing them as the backbone of livestock production, public health and food safety.
The CS said the veterinary profession is a vocation defined by deep devotion to animal health and human wellbeing.
He noted that veterinarians are central to the success of dairy farmers in high-potential areas, where professional guidance on breeding, vaccination, herd health and milk quality directly translates into improved productivity, increased incomes and better living standards for farmers.
Kagwe lauded the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) for positioning the country as self-sufficient in livestock vaccine production and a trusted exporter to markets in Africa and the Middle East.
CS further highlighted ongoing innovation at the Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre (KAGRC) and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), where advances in genetic improvement, cold-chain solutions and last-mile delivery are transforming livestock production systems.
Kagwe further underscored the veterinary profession’s role in driving economic transformation, citing recent progress in disease surveillance, vaccination programmes that have seen over 7.8 million animals vaccinated, and the reduction of disease-related losses.
The CS assured the veterinarians of commitment to supporting the profession through enhanced regulatory frameworks, increased training opportunities, and strategic partnerships that elevate the livestock sector’s contribution to national development.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
