Ministry of Agriculture set to launch e-voucher system for livestock vaccination
Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke said the system will initially be piloted in selected regions to test its effectiveness before a nationwide rollout.
The Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to launch an electronic voucher system to improve livestock vaccination and disease monitoring, starting with counties that have high livestock populations and are prone to outbreaks.
The initiative aims to strengthen herd management, provide real-time data for authorities, and support the government’s broader plan to digitise agricultural services, which benefit millions of rural households.
More To Read
- Investing in rural roads key to doubling Kenya’s farm output - study
- Tourism and agriculture leading in hiring as other sectors stumble
- Over 9,000 new pest species threaten Uganda’s food security, study warns
- 33 million women grow food on plots in Sub-Saharan Africa: Greener farming can boost their earnings – Study
- Solar-powered drip irrigation transforms farming in Kwale, ending food shortages
- Are African countries aware of their own mineral wealth? Ghana, Rwanda offer two different answers
Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke said the system will initially be piloted in selected regions to test its effectiveness before a nationwide rollout.
“The system, which will be piloted in regions with high livestock populations and those prone to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), anthrax, and other transboundary animal diseases, will enhance data-driven decision-making in the livestock sector,” Mueke said during a tour of Maralal, Samburu County.
He added that security agencies will also use the system in tackling cattle theft and curbing the illicit livestock trade.
The programme is modelled on the successful fertiliser e-voucher system, where farmers register through the Kenya Integrated Agriculture Management System (KIAMS) and receive digital vouchers via SMS or other digital means.
These vouchers are redeemed for subsidised fertiliser at designated depots or agro-vet shops. Officials hope to replicate this system in livestock vaccination, ensuring vaccines are distributed accurately while maintaining a central database for tracking animal health.
Through the pilot, authorities will collect real-time vaccination data in the selected counties, enabling them to map coverage, identify disease hotspots, and respond quickly to outbreaks.
The system will also maintain comprehensive digital health records for livestock, a critical step for modern herd management and traceability.
“We have already tested the system in government farms. We are in talks with all county governments through respective livestock and veterinary departments to roll out the programme immediately,” Mueke said.
He emphasised that piloting the system in selected regions will help refine operations and ensure smooth integration when it is scaled up nationally.
The government plans to vaccinate 22 million cattle and 50 million goats and sheep under the e-voucher system. President William Ruto has defended the exercise, saying it is crucial for eradicating foot-and-mouth disease and peste des petits ruminants (PPR).
However, the Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) has opposed the programme, citing four risks that they say justify postponing the mass vaccination exercise.
The pilot programme is also expected to improve efficiency, reduce vaccine wastage, and enhance disease surveillance.
Farmers in the participating counties will have easier access to vaccines through digital vouchers, while authorities and security agencies will benefit from better tracking of livestock movements and health records.
The government aims to demonstrate the system’s impact by starting with targeted counties before rolling it out to the rest of the country.
Top Stories Today
