Agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy, supporting millions of households and a major contributor to national growth.
Given the sector’s crucial role, the country has embarked on a mass livestock vaccination against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
FMD has long been a major obstacle to livestock productivity, especially among smallholder farmers. This group has struggled with high treatment and vaccination costs, recurrent outbreaks, and reduced milk and meat yields. Therefore, government’s decision to implement a coordinated, subsidised, mass vaccination programme offers them relief.
Through this campaign, the government aims to vaccinate 22 million cattle and 50 million sheep and goats, with activities starting in 11 counties including Meru, Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, Laikipia, Kajiado, Bungoma, Bomet, and Narok.
The initiative will soon be scaled to all 47 counties as Kenya targets 70 percent vaccination coverage within four years, the internationally accepted threshold for effective FMD control.
As of 27th November 2025, approximately 40,000 farmers and 250,000 cattle had been onboarded, with 200,000 animals vaccinated. With early implementation challenges now addressed, the project is expected to accelerate significantly in the coming weeks.
This campaign is anchored on strong partnerships between the government, private sector, and development partners. Key collaborators include the World Bank through the National Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), the Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA), county governments, and community-based cooperatives.
The involvement of these diverse players ensures that the programme is consultative, technically sound, and grounded in the realities confronting farmers.
Additionally, the collaboration injects the exercise with the requisite skills, insights and experiences crucial in making it a success.
It also creates opportunities for private veterinary surgeons and para-professionals to earn income and expand their skills through participation.
A central pillar of the campaign is the subsidised vaccine model. Farmers now pay Sh50 per animal, a reduction from the previous cost of Sh160.
The subsidy is particularly important to smallholders, who often bear the highest brunt of livestock diseases yet can’t afford the high cost of treatment.
Benefits of controlling FMD are far-reaching. Outbreaks of the disease cause massive losses, estimated at up to Sh62 billion annually, due to livestock deaths, reduced productivity, and restrictions on trade.
By preventing these losses, the vaccination programme strengthens livelihoods, improves food production, and contributes to national economic growth.
Kenya’s livestock sector already contributes Sh1.4 trillion to the economy and employs nearly half of the agricultural workforce. The government’s ambition to raise the sector’s GDP contribution from 12 percent to 20 percent by 2027 depends heavily on disease control initiatives. Increased production will help reduce national milk deficit and cut dependence on imports. The country currently produces about six billion litres annually against a demand of seven billion litres.
Beyond domestic benefits, the FMD campaign is also a strategic investment in Kenya’s export potential. International markets, including the European Union, impose stringent sanitary requirements that Kenya has historically struggled to meet due to persistent livestock diseases.
Effective control of FMD will pave the way for higher-value exports of meat, milk, hides, and value-added products such as cheese and leather, thereby boosting foreign exchange earnings.
Concerns initially raised about safety have since been dispelled. The vaccines are made locally by the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute, which has assured farmers of their safety and efficacy. With ongoing sensitisation, farmer uptake is bound to rise going forward.
As this historic vaccination drive gains momentum, farmers are encouraged to fully embrace the programme. Protecting livestock from FMD is not only a preventive action but also an investment in higher productivity, better incomes, and improved quality of life.
The mass vaccination campaign represents a pivotal moment for Kenya’s livestock industry and a defining step towards a more food-secure, economically empowered future.
The programme is also expected to create 11,000 jobs, including 1,350 veterinary surgeons and 10,000 para-professionals, many of whom are already actively engaged.
This not only injects income into rural economies but also strengthens professional networks and enhances service delivery across the country.
Collaboration with the Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) has been essential in ensuring qualified veterinary practitioners are brought onboard.
Technology and innovation are central to the success of this vaccination campaign. A digital e-voucher system guarantees transparency, accountability, and efficiency in service delivery.
The adoption of advanced animal identification technology using unique muzzle patterns, marks a major shift from traditional tagging and branding.
This cutting-edge system enhances traceability, improves disease surveillance, and offers a powerful tool for deterring livestock theft.