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{
    "id": 1545597,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1545597/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 152,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Lemaltian",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "entirely and solely depend on pastoralism as a means of livelihood. Therefore, when we talk about mass livestock vaccination, without making it clear on what specific diseases we are vaccinating our livestock against, that directly endangers the existence of these pastoralists. We are talking about a threat to approximately four million Kenyans. That is a huge percentage. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there has never been a public report that we are aware of on what these livestock are being vaccinated against. Diseases have not been specified. I like the statement that talks about outline of the timeline. How long it will take to vaccinate about 22 million heads of cattle? It is important to have answers to those questions because we know that at no point do you find a huge number of our livestock accumulated in one place. Most of us are nomadic pastoralists. It is important to note that we move our livestock from places to places. In Samburu County, we have something called laleta, which are like manyattas where livestock is put for a certain period of time. A lot of times, we also put our livestock in such manyattas away from where the citizens live in order to protect them from external threats and banditry. It is important also to tell us whether there was sufficient public participation done in these pastoralist counties. If our people are aware that the vaccination is going to be conducted, the importance of why these cows must be vaccinated as well as a clear outline on other issues. If at all there are no diseases affecting this livestock, why vaccinate them? I have heard information flying about that they are being vaccinated to increase their output and the quantity or kilogrammes of beef that will be produced by this livestock. How will our people directly benefit from the proceeds of selling this beef? We know that a lot of this beef is taken to Kenya Meat Commission (KMC). What is the Commission doing to directly benefit our people from the increased beef output? Secondly, if we have foreign players, like sponsors, partners or shareholders in this whole process, what is their main interest? Is this programme targeting a special breed or a hybrid of livestock or is it also targeting our local breeds like the Boran cow, which our people keep in the north? Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we know that out of the 22 million livestock, a good percentage of it or more than half of it, is concentrated in the North Eastern counties; the ASAL areas of this country. It is also important to note that most of our people are illiterate. Therefore, they need to be given sufficient time for public participation and the leadership needs to be involved. We need to know. That is why these questions are valid and they come in timely. I support the statement, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir."
}