Kakamega County Government has temporarily closed livestock markets and restricted the movement of cattle between Shinyalu and Malava subcounties following reported cases of Foot and Mouth disease.
At the same time, the county government has rolled out a door-to-door vaccination campaign in the two sub counties to control further spread of the disease.
Speaking in Shinyalu on Tuesday, the Acting County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Irrigation, and Cooperatives Development, Mophat Mandela, said the county government will open the markets and allow movement of cattle once the disease is controlled.
“Vaccination is a prevention measure to disease. This disease spreads fast, and if we cannot control it, our farmers will encounter huge losses,” Mandela said.
He urged residents of the two sub counties to cooperate with veterinary officers who will be moving through each household to ensure that all cattle in the area are vaccinated.
“Meat inspectors are on standby to inspect and ensure that affected animals are not slaughtered and their meat is not sold to unsuspecting members of the public,” he added.
He assured that the vaccines have been procured from the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) and are safe for their livestock.
By Moses Wekesa
