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{
"id": 1559172,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559172/?format=api",
"text_counter": 163,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Tigania West, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) John Mutunga Kanyuithia",
"speaker": null,
"content": "The fifth measure focuses on investing in capacity building for feed production, where the Government is training farmers to make their own rations, referred to as Omin Ration . This initiative is spreading across the country. The final measure that the Government is implementing is a partnership with other stakeholders through a programmatic arrangement. We have several projects within the Ministry, such as the National Value Chain Development Support Program and the Food System Resilience Program, which covers all the counties. These initiatives are aimed at providing animal feed at a lower cost. The Hon. Member also sought clarification on the initiatives in place to enhance milk production in the country. I will mention these initiatives and provide a brief elaboration. One is the production of livestock feeds to improve dairy feeding, which I have already discussed, so I will not elaborate further on that. Another initiative focuses on improving the quality and safety of the feed itself. The Government, has enacted the Kenya Fertilizer and Animal Feeds Act (Cap 345). This legislation is currently being implemented to ensure the availability of safe and affordable animal feeds. The second measure involves improving dairy genetics, which is important. To improve genetics, the Government has set up an additional semen production unit at ADC, Endebess in Kitale. The other one is the Kenya Animal Genetics Resource Centre in Kabete. These units produce semen, supported by distribution systems that include the production of liquid nitrogen at various locations in the country. Liquid nitrogen centres include the ones in Eldoret, Meru, Kirinyaga, and Kaimosi. These are supplementary liquid nitrogen centres that allow long-term storage of semen. Additionally, there is a safe semen production unit where the Government has invested in equipment to ensure the production of safe semen. This allows Kenyans to obtain semen for producing heifers at affordable rates or female calves. The second to last initiative involves the capacity building of farmers and other stakeholders. Various programs have been implemented to enable Kenyan farmers to produce better milk, more milk and cleaner milk, all at affordable rates. The final initiative is the implementation of key donor-funded projects, which include those mentioned earlier and others that cover the entire country. These initiatives aim to help Kenyan farmers improve the quality of their animals, thereby, enhancing both the quality and quantity of milk produced. I submit. The final one is implementation of key donor funded projects that include the one I mentioned earlier. Others have an entire country coverage to enable Kenyan farmers improve on the quality of animals to improve the quality and amount of produced milk. Hon. Speaker, I submit."
},
{
"id": 1559173,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559173/?format=api",
"text_counter": 164,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you, Hon. Mutunga. Hon. Karemba."
},
{
"id": 1559174,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559174/?format=api",
"text_counter": 165,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Runyenjes, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Muchangi Karemba",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Thank you. While I appreciate the effort made by the Chairman in responding to my issue, I would wish to mention and make it clear to the Chairman that there lies a huge potential in this country, in the area of dairy production. I wish we and the Committee, would follow up to ensure that we exploit the benefits we can get from the dairy farmers because we have a huge demand for milk and dairy products. Only the Government can go into ensuring that feeds are not as costly as they are currently. Recently, we witnessed a spirited campaign to have mass vaccination of animals that was targeting livestock reared for beef. Mostly, if you go to our region of Embu, you will find that we have many cows not reared for beef, but dairy. Whereas, we are not opposed to mass The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1559175,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559175/?format=api",
"text_counter": 166,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Runyenjes, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Muchangi Karemba",
"speaker": null,
"content": "vaccination, we believe that there is enormous potential in the dairy sector. We would get much help if animal feed cost lower. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
},
{
"id": 1559176,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559176/?format=api",
"text_counter": 167,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Thank you. There is nothing to respond to, Hon. Mutunga. He has just complimented what you said. Dr Nyikal."
},
{
"id": 1559177,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559177/?format=api",
"text_counter": 168,
"type": "heading",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "STATUS OF KALA-AZAR OUTBREAK IN WAJIR COUNTY"
},
{
"id": 1559178,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559178/?format=api",
"text_counter": 169,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
"speaker": null,
"content": " Hon. Speaker, I wish to respond to a Request of Statement by Hon. Adan Keynan, CBS, MP, before the Departmental Committee on Health on the status of the Kala-azar outbreak in Wajir County. Hon. Members, I wish to bring to the attention of this House the current situation regarding the outbreak of Kala-azar, also known as Visceral Leishmaniasis, in Wajir. Kala- azar is a life-threatening parasitic disease caused by a parasite. It is transmitted through the bite of infected sand flies. It remains a serious public health concern, particularly in Kenya's North Eastern, Rift Valley, and Eastern regions. If left untreated, the disease has a fatality rate of 95 per cent. Common symptoms include prolonged fever, weight loss, diarrhoea, fatigue, anaemia, darkening of the skin, swollen glands, and enlargement of the spleen and the liver. Kenya has over the past six years consistently reported between 500 and 1,300 cases of Kala-azar annually, largely concentrated in 11 endemic counties. Since September 2024, however, a significant surge in reported cases has been observed with Wajir County emerging as the epicentre. To date, Wajir has recorded 762 confirmed cases. That is the highest among affected counties. Of these, 85 per cent of patients have been successfully treated and recovered. Eleven per cent are undergoing treatment. Tragically, 29 lives have been lost. That represents a case fatality of 3.8 per cent. That means 38 people out of 1,000 people have died. The most affected sub-counties are Wajir East, Wajir West and Eldas. Currently, 86 cases are on treatment across various sub-county health facilities: Wajir County Referral Hospital, 55 cases; Griftu Sub-county Hospital, 22; Eldas Sub-county Hospital, eight; and Bute Sub-county Hospital, one. Visceral Leishmaniasis transmission in the affected regions is predominantly driven by the presence and proliferation of sand fly vectors known as Phlebotomus. They thrive in arid and semi-arid areas commonly found in northern Kenya. Human infections typically occur when individuals are exposed to these vectors while residing in or moving through those endemic areas. Particularly, near termite mounds, animal shelters, and cracks in walls in abandoned buildings. The risk of infection and disease severity is significantly heightened by underlying vulnerabilities like malnutrition, weakened immunity, comorbidities like in people who are infected with diseases like HIV, and delayed health-seeking behaviour. The disease disproportionately, affects marginalised populations living in remote, underserved areas where access to timely diagnosis and treatment is limited. Environmental and socio-economic factors further exacerbate the outbreak. These include poor housing conditions that offer little protection against sand flies, water scarcity, increased population mobility, and displacement due to conflict or climatic factors. Additionally, low community awareness combined with high levels of cross-border movement complicates surveillance, control, and case management. Without sustained multi- sectoral interventions, including vector control, early detection, and continuous health system strengthening, the risk of recurrent outbreaks and higher mortality remains significant. On intervention undertaken in Wajir so far in response to the ongoing Kala-azar outbreak in Wajir County, the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Health (MOH) in The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
},
{
"id": 1559179,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559179/?format=api",
"text_counter": 170,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
"speaker": null,
"content": "collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners has activated a multi-sectoral coordinated public health response. The Ministry deployed a multidisciplinary team led by their field epidemiology team to conduct rapid field investigations and case management. To bolster frontline capacity, they have trained over 30 healthcare workers in diagnosis, treatment, and case management of Visceral Leishmaniasis across the four affected centres. This is complemented by continuous medical education, targeted on-the-job mentorship, and training on case-based surveillance reporting through the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS) aimed at improving data accuracy and timelines. To support the diagnostics and treatment, the Ministry of Health has distributed 768 boxes of rapid diagnostic test kits, 850 vials of sodium stibogluconate, 1,900 vials of paromomycin, and 840 vials of ambisome. Those are the three drugs used to treat. An additional 200 test kits and 400 more vials of drugs were also procured using supplementary funds. Furthermore, in collaboration with partners such as the WHO and Médecins Sans"
},
{
"id": 1559180,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559180/?format=api",
"text_counter": 171,
"type": "scene",
"speaker_name": "",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "Frontières"
},
{
"id": 1559181,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559181/?format=api",
"text_counter": 172,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
"speaker": null,
"content": "(MSF), the Ministry coordinated delivery of these critical health products and technologies to Wajir County. That is to ensure uninterrupted availability of essential diagnostic and treatment supplies for affected population. To strengthen inpatient cases, 100 hospital beds and mattresses were distributed to improve the quality of care and comfort in treatment facilities. Importantly, three mobile laboratory units were deployed in the most affected sub-counties to facilitate timely diagnosis, treatment, and on-site data collection. In addition to the medical efforts, the ministry launched comprehensive vector control activities aimed at mitigating the spread of Visceral Leishmaniasis by targeting the sand fly vector responsible for the disease transmission. To this end, the Ministry procured 50 farm guard mist duster machines, 150 omni pumps and 141 two-stroke engine sprayers. The sprayers are for the environment and inside houses. There are also 1,000 sachets of insecticides for the same. These integrated vector management strategies are crucial for reducing vector density and lowering transmission. In recognition of the current nature of visceral leishmaniasis and the broader and more resilient public health system, the Ministry has initiated long-term measures aimed at sustaining progress and preventing future outbreaks. These include a national strategic plan. The Ministry has also provided resources through the supplementary budget and this has been useful in containing the outbreak. Looking forward, the Ministry has worked out a plan with Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to distribute the required drugs and equipment in the affected areas. In the long term, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) will continue to play a central role to monitor disease outbreak and responses. This is not only for the regions affected but the country at large. The Ministry remains available to provide any further clarification that this House may require. The response is signed by the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Aden Duale."
}
]
}