Ex-Mandera Senator Kerrow faults Ruto govt for neglecting livestock sector

Former Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow has criticised the Kenya Kwanza Government for failing to prioritise the country's livestock sector, a vital part of the economy.

Kerrow on his official X handle on Wednesday, pointed out that despite the important potential of the sector, the government's lack of attention and commitment to addressing key issues is preventing it from reaching its full potential.

He noted that diseases, while a challenge, are not the primary barriers to the growth of the livestock industry.

Instead, he argued, the real problem lies in the government's failure to prioritize the sector.

"The government simply lacks the will to prioritise the sector," Kerrow claimed.

He compared Kenya's underperformance in livestock exports to that of Somalia, which, despite having fewer resources, managed to export 22 million live animals worth $3 billion in the past five years.

In contrast, Kenya's livestock exports reached a mere $20 million in 2023, according to UN Comtrade data.

"Somalia, with no KEVVAPI or Bill Gates, has outperformed Kenya in livestock exports. The disparity is clear," Kerrow stated.

The former senator also criticised Kenya's Livestock Sessional Paper No. 20 of 2020, claiming it failed to mention any plans to improve livestock exports or initiate a nationwide vaccination campaign to control diseases.

"The Sessional Paper doesn't even mention the export of animals, nor does it provide a policy for disease control through vaccination," Kerrow said.

He further highlighted the devastating losses experienced by pastoralist counties, particularly in Wajir, where 2.6 million animals, valued at $1.75 billion, were lost in 2021-2022 due to drought and disease, as reported by the Kenya National Drought Management Authority.

Priority

Despite these alarming losses, Kerrow argued that the government has not made vaccination a priority.

"This is not a matter of frustration or emotion; these are the facts," he said., urging the government to address the urgent issues outlined in the Livestock Sessional Paper and take real action to revive the sector.

Kerrow's remarks come after President William Ruto on Tuesday defended the national livestock vaccination campaign targeting 21 million cattle and 50 million small animals, including sheep and goats.

Speaking during the 4th Pastoralist Summit in Wajir, Ruto pointed out that the initiative is essential for creating a disease-free environment and enhancing Kenya's access to international

markets.

"This vaccination exercise will help create a disease-free country and open new market opportunities for our livestock products. We haven't given livestock the attention it deserves. By vaccinating livestock on a national scale, we will not only ensure the health of our herds but also improve our export potential, which will have a direct impact on the economy," he stated.

The President said the exercise will ensure the country is free of diseases so that they can be allowed to export some livestock products to foreign markets.

"We want to create a disease-free country so that we can market our livestock products to destinations where we have been denied access due to disease control inadequacies," he said.

Telling off those opposed to the programme, Ruto asserted, "Anybody opposing vaccination to eliminate FMD and PPR is simply mad and unreasonable and possibly stupid."

"Honestly, how else can you explain? or maybe they do not have cattle, maybe they don't understand what this is all about," he posed.

Speaking in Wajir, the tough-talking head of state said it was foolhardy for leaders to continue misleading the public about the intention of the exercise.

At least 22 million cattle and 50 million goats and sheep will be vaccinated for Food and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in the programme set for January 2025.

"It is the right to do, so if you are used to planting things... you don't know about livestock, shut up, at least for those of us who keep cattle," he said.