Kiambu Subsidizes Animal Registration and Vaccination in Rural Areas

Kiambu County has rolled out a countywide subsidized Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination and livestock registration program aimed at safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods and strengthening the dairy sector. The exercise, which began on October 6, 2025, will cover all 60 wards and is being implemented in collaboration with 15 dairy cooperative societies. Under the program, livestock will be vaccinated at KSh 50 per animal—down from the usual KSh 160—while veterinary officers also register animals to create a reliable database for traceability and disease management.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi emphasized that the initiative is critical for animal health and sustaining the county’s dairy value chain. This drive will ensure that our animals are protected, our farmers are supported, and our dairy industry remains competitive, he said during the launch. Farmers are required to pay via M-Pesa and collect vaccination vouchers from their cooperative societies before veterinary teams visit their farms. The program, running from October to December, aims to prevent severe illness, weight loss, and reduced milk yields in cattle, while also safeguarding young calves and lowering treatment costs.
County officials highlighted the broader benefits of the initiative, including enhanced herd immunity and the creation of a robust livestock database to guide policy and support farmers with timely information. Chief Officer for Livestock, Fisheries and Veterinary Services, John Ngigi Kuria, explained that registration will allow authorities to track animals from birth to market, improve disease control, and ensure fair compensation in cases of outbreaks or interventions. Farmers were urged to cooperate with veterinary teams to maximize the program’s impact, ensuring a healthier herd and a stronger, more productive dairy sector. With Kenya’s dairy industry contributing 4% of the national GDP and supporting over 1.8 million smallholder farmers, initiatives like this are key to boosting productivity and maintaining the country’s position as a leading milk producer in Africa.