Anxiety in the livestock sector due to absence of the board

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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