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{
    "id": 183070,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/183070/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 90,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Duale",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Livestock Development",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 15,
        "legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
        "slug": "aden-duale"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, this population of livestock that we have is vis-a-vis 24,392 veterinary doctors, 2,475 animal health technicians in the Ministry and about 200 private veterinarians. Currently, the ratio of veterinary doctors to livestock in this country is 1 to 53,000 while the desired international standard is 1 to 5,000 in intense production systems and 1 to 20,000 in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) region. From the foregoing, the Ministry needs to employ an additional 1,700 veterinary doctors to bring down the ratio to an average of 1 animal to 12,000 veterinary doctors. (b) It is true that Kenya as a country might have lost a number of livestock to endemic outbreaks due to poor disease control owing to the shortage of trained personnel. It is for this reason that hon. Members should know that my Ministry has not employed veterinary doctors and animal health technicians for the last 20 years as a result of the World Bank Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs). However, despite the shortage of trained personnel and very low budgetary allocation, my Ministry has been in a position to respond to, control and contain animal diseases in this country. (c) In order to address the problem of animal diseases which has a very significant bearing on food security in this country, my Ministry has recently recruited 23 veterinary doctors who have already been posted to the field. An additional 100 veterinary doctors are in the process of being employed by the Public Service Commission (PSC). The Ministry is also in the process of recruiting 145 livestock animal health assistants and 51 laboratory technologists. Further, in an effort to contain animal diseases in the country and to enable farmers to penetrate the international livestock market, my Ministry is in the process of creating disease-free zones at the Coast and Laikipia and also reviving the holding grounds. Equally, there is an ongoing international programme known as Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATEC) aimed at eradicating the tsetse fly which causes East Coast Fever. In recognition of the importance of disease control in this country, the Ministry of Livestock Development has, in the last three months, revived and put under its custody the Kenya Veterinary and Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) in my docket. This institute will 2930 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES October 22, 2008 help the Ministry and the country in the production of vaccines. In conclusion, vaccination of animals against various strain-related diseases in this country has been undertaken. Currently, vaccination against foot and mouth disease, rabies, Rift Valley Fever and PPR is ongoing. This financial year, the Kenya Government has provided Kshs420 million which has enabled the Ministry to carry out a massive nationwide exercise against the outbreak of PPR that is affecting the small goats and sheep across the nation."
}