The government has announced an ambitious plan to modernize Kenya’s livestock sector through a comprehensive digital transformation aimed at curbing rising animal deaths linked to drought,disease, and weak surveillance systems.
Speaking during the Veterinarian of the Year Awards in Nairobi, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, said the country is shifting from reactive crisis management to proactive, data-driven preparedness.
Kagwe revealed that Kenya will roll out digital traceability systems for all animals, supported by a centralized national data platform and strengthened county veterinary networks.
He urged counties, private sector players, and development partners to collaborate ahead of the next drought season, warning that interventions that come only after animal deaths have already occurred are both expensive and unsustainable.
The Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) also raised alarm over a severe shortage of veterinary professionals across the country.
According to the association, the shortage combined with underpayment and harsh working conditions poses a major threat to public health, food safety, and animal welfare.
Insufficient staffing, the KVA noted, hampers early detection and response to livestock diseases, undermining the government’s ability to build a resilient animal health system.
CS Kagwe acknowledged the challenge, saying the success of the digital reforms depends heavily on addressing human resource gaps in the veterinary sector.
He called for urgent policy interventions, improved recruitment, and better incentives to attract and retain qualified veterinary officers.
The new reforms are expected to support pastoralist communities hardest hit by recurrent droughts, reduce losses from diseases such as foot-and-mouth and Rift Valley fever, and enhance Kenya’s competitiveness in regional and international livestock markets.
Kagwe affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the livestock sector an economic lifeline for millions in arid and semi-arid regions adopts modern, technology-driven tools capable of predicting risks before they escalate.
If fully implemented, the digital overhaul could mark one of the most significant shifts in Kenya’s livestock management in decades, offering hope to farmers facing an increasingly unpredictable climate.
Kenya Veterinary Association Celebrates Milestones, Pushes for Stronger Animal Health Reforms.
Speaking at the ceremony,Dr. Kelvin Osore , National Chairman Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) highlighted major strides made key among them, the association’s evolving role in Kenya’s national vaccination campaign.
Although the association initially opposed aspects of the government-led effort, continued engagement has created a framework that allows private veterinarians the frontline professionals who work directly with farmers to administer vaccines.
This, officials say, could be transformative in the fight against livestock diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, which has long limited Kenya’s export opportunities.
KVA leaders urged the government to take human resource disparities seriously, arguing that veterinary services are essential public goods.
With only 2,800 veterinary surgeons and about 17,000 technicians serving the entire country and fewer than 200 vets employed in national or county governments the association warns that Kenya cannot adequately safeguard animal health or food safety without increased staffing and investment.
Looking ahead, Kenya is bidding to host the 2028 World Veterinary Congress after finishing second in last year’s vote.
KVA has secured government backing and hopes to bring the global event to Nairobi.
The association is also pushing for major legal reforms, including the Animal Health Bill which would modernize outdated veterinary laws and the Animal Welfare and Protection Bill, intended to replace the 1966 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act with stronger penalties and protections.
As the year ends, KVA says its mission remains clear: to champion animal welfare, strengthen veterinary services, and advocate not only for its members but for communities whose livelihoods rely on healthy livestock.
