Kericho County on Friday officially launched a government-subsidised livestock vaccination campaign against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) at Kaptoroi Village in Ainamoi Ward, marking the start of a countywide initiative aimed at protecting farmers’ livelihoods, safeguarding livestock health, and preventing the spread of the disease.
The exercise targets over 233,000 animals across all 20 wards of Kericho County and aims to achieve herd immunity to eradicate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral disease that causes fever, blisters on the mouth and feet, reduced milk production, weight loss, and sometimes death in cattle, sheep, and goats, posing a serious threat to livestock health and farmers’ animal trade.
Speaking during the launch, Kericho County Governor Dr Erick Mutai urged livestock farmers across the county to ensure their animals receive vaccination at the nearest centers promptly, emphasising that the exercise would be closely supervised by trained Livestock Officers, and Extension Officers to guarantee safe and efficient administration.
Dr Mutai added that vaccination is crucial because Foot and Mouth Disease spreads rapidly through contact between animals, contaminated equipment, and human movement, often causing long-term drops in milk yield, slowed weight gain, and restrictions on the sale or transport of livestock, urging all livestock owners across Kericho to have their animals vaccinated promptly to protect herd productivity and maintain uninterrupted market access.
“And I urge every livestock farmer across Kericho to promptly avail their livestock for this vaccination exercise because Foot and Mouth Disease spreads rapidly through contact between animals and contaminated materials and so timely vaccination remains the most effective way to protect your animals,” stressed Dr Mutai.
He assured that well-equipped veterinary teams have been deployed across all wards to ensure vaccination centers are accessible, guaranteeing that no animal across the county is left out of the immunisation drive.
Also present during the launch were County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co‑operatives John Cheruiyot, Chief Officer for Livestock, Fisheries and Co‑operative Management Dr Michael Bett, and Chief Officer for Agriculture and Crop Production Ms Betsy Chebet.
Statistics from the State Department for Livestock indicate that the national Mass Livestock Vaccination Programme has already made significant progress countrywide, with the exercise covering nearly 9 million animals and protecting livestock against major diseases, including Foot and Mouth Disease.
By Kibe Mburu
