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{
"id": 195642,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/195642/?format=api",
"text_counter": 119,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dr. Kuti",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Livestock Development",
"speaker": {
"id": 60,
"legal_name": "Mohammed Abdi Kuti",
"slug": "mohammed-kuti"
},
"content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. On Thursday, last week, hon. Ethuro sought a Ministerial Statement on the status of PPR disease in Kenya. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the objective of this Statement, therefore, is to update hon. Members on the state of PPR in Kenya and the steps my Ministry has taken to contain and control the disease. PPR is a viral disease of sheep and goats with a very high mortality rate of about 90 per cent to 100 per cent. It is an acute contagious disease, which is characterised by fever, ocular and nasal discharges, oral illusion, diarrhoea and pneumonia. The disease causes loss through high mortality, abortions, reduced growth rate and reduced production. It has no cure, but it is prevented or controlled through awareness creation by technical officers to the farmers, surveillance, regulation of animals' movement; that is quarantine, and more importantly through mass vaccination. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the disease was first reported in March, 2006, in Turkana District and confirmed through laboratory tests in July, 2006. Samples of the disease were taken from Loima, Lokichoggio and Olopoi divisions of Turkana District. Since then, the disease has spread to West Pokot, Baringo, Samburu, Moyale, Marakwet, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Laikipia and Ijara districts. After the confirmation of the disease, my Ministry has enforced livestock movement; that is, quarantine in the areas that were affected. However, vaccination could not start immediately because PPR vaccines were not readily available in the country at the time of the outbreak. Mr. Speaker, Sir, since the outbreak of the disease in March, 2006, in Turkana District, the number of animals affected are 2,931,800 sheep and goats. Approximately 15 million sheep and goats are now at risk of being infected by this disease. To contain this disease, my Ministry requires, therefore, 15 million doses of the vaccine. The whole vaccination exercise is estimated to cost about Kshs800 million. PPR vaccine is not produced locally and has to be imported. The vaccine currently costs about Kshs25 per dose. But if the vaccine were to be produced locally, the cost would be approximately Kshs5 per dose. The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and the Kenya Veterinary Vaccine Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) can easily undertake the production of this vaccine and, indeed, they have the mandate. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in an attempt to contain the disease, my Ministry has procured 162,000 doses of the vaccine at a cost of Kshs4 million. In addition, our development partners such as the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) have provided 1.5 million doses at Kshs37.5 million and they have promised to provide 500,000 more doses at a cost of about Kshs12.5 million. To date, about 1,600,000 sheep and goats have been vaccinated in Turkana, Moyale, Wajir and Samburu districts. My Ministry does not have the provision for compensating livestock farmers in case of loss of their stock. However, my Ministry is in the process of formulating an insurance policy to compensate livestock farmers in case of loss of their animals. In view of emerging diseases such as the Avian Influenza, my Ministry is reviewing the issue of compensation. While my Ministry is doing its best to contain PPR and other livestock diseases, the Ministry is seriously constrained by inadequate staff, and especially veterinary and other technical officers. It should be noted that the last time this Ministry employed technical staff April 29, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 719 was 20 years ago in 1987. The situation has been aggravated by creation of new districts and sub- division of the Ministries. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in order to address and contain this emergency, my Ministry has requested for additional funding of Kshs800 million and recruitment of staff on an urgent basis in order to ensure that livestock farmers do not lose their stock due to this disease. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir."
}