By The Mountain Journal
Stakeholders in the
livestock industry are seeking the formal appointment of nominees to the Kenya
Veterinary Board (KVB) to enable effective regulation of the sector.
The players led by Dr
Julius Kamau said the period of the board led by Dr Christopher Wanga expired
last month and the Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has delayed to
gazette the new one almost paralysing some important functions in the body.
Kamau, a veterinary
surgeon, said the functions of the board that include inspection of
institutions in the livestock management chain ahead of licensing have almost
grid halt.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya
Speaking in Murang’a, Dr
Kamau said the delay had impacted negatively in the agricultural sector
especially in the importation of veterinary drugs which must be approved by the
KVB.
The 17 members of the
new board have already been nominated with seven from the private sector, as
the law demands.
“The functions of the
board include licensing of the graduates from the colleges and we have hundreds
who completed their courses from the Animal Health Training Institutes (Ahiti)
who cannot practice for until they are given the go ahead,” said Kamau.
Peter Kamau Mungania,
another practitioner, said some investors have been waiting to establish
training facilities and have been affected by the delay as they must await
approval from the KVB.
“The board is very
crucial as the practitioners know its importance in regulating the sector.
Following the economic impact associated with Covid-19, many Kenyans have
turned to livestock farming as an alternative,” said Kamau.
He added that the
graduates from the colleges are idle in the villages due to a lack of licenses
from the regulator.
The names of the members
of the board were published in the local dailies last month on March 23.
These in the list of
elected by veterinary surgeons and veterinary paraprofessionals are Dr Joan
Magero, Dr Jared Kitaa, Dr Cathryn Wanjohi, Dr Derrick Chibeu, Benson Ameda,
Oreste Karanja and Queerenuse Oluoch.
When reached for
comments, Munya said the new Board would be formally appointed very soon.
“Livestock is a crucial
sector of the economy and the members of the board will soon be on the
Kenya Gazette,” said the CS.
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