Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to join you all for this occasion in which we celebrate the eradication of rinderpest in our country.

On 26th May last year, Kenya was presented with a certificate by the International Committee of the World Animal Health Organization as proof that our country is free from rinderpest. The eradication of rinderpest in Kenya has been the culmination of over 50 years of concerted efforts by the Government in partnership with several development partners as well as international organizations that deal with animal health.

I take this opportunity to commend all our development partners for making it possible for us to celebrate this important milestone in the livestock industry of our country. I also commend our livestock farmers whose cooperation during surveillance and vaccination activities has been crucial in achieving the eradication objective.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The eradication of rinderpest in our country is one indication of the progress we are making in the agricultural sector as a whole. Indeed, after experiencing low and declining productivity during the last two decades, my Government initiated appropriate strategies that have revitalized agriculture as the engine of growth for our economy.

I am glad to note that as a result of these strategies, a number of key agricultural institutions in the livestock sub-sector have now been revived. These include the Kenya Meat Commission and the Kenya Cooperative Creameries, which were revived to serve the livestock industry and enhance its contribution to poverty reduction. I am pleased to note that growth in the livestock industry has been impressive. Some of the indicators of this growth include:

increase in milk production which reached 4 billion litres last year;
provision of both red and white meat with an estimated farm-gate value of 214 billion shillings;
generation, on average, of 4.5 billion shillings from the export of hides, skins and semi-processed leather annually; and
increase in earnings from the export of live animals which reached 490 million shillings last year.
These achievements were realized ahead of the planned creation of Disease Free Zones as laid out in our VISION TWENTY THIRTY.

We expect, therefore, to do much more when plans envisaged under the Vision are implemented. Indeed, the Disease Free Zones are expected to produce over 59,200 tonnes of export-quality meat worth over 7.4 billion shillings annually. The eradication of rinderpest from Kenya will go a long way in improving Kenya ’s access to export markets for its livestock and livestock products.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In spite of the positive trend in livestock development, the Government is aware of the many challenges facing the livestock sector. Key amongst these is the threat of emerging and re-emerging livestock diseases. Although we have eradicated rinderpest, other diseases pose obstacles to livestock development in some parts of the country and have also been a big threat to human life. To counter this threat, the Government will continue to increase funding for disease control and to apply appropriate strategies to contain animal diseases. The Government will also establish appropriate Emergency Response Units such as the National Avian Influenza Project to respond to disease outbreaks.

In addition, the capacity for disease control infrastructure, like the quality assurance laboratories and the veterinary farms, will be enhanced with a view to providing the necessary support to the livestock industry. Regular vaccination of livestock against major diseases will also be carried out.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

About 60 percent of Kenya ’s livestock is found in the arid and semi-arid lands. It is estimated that 10 million Kenyans living in the arid and semi-arid areas derive their livelihood largely from livestock. To support producers in these areas, the Government plans to rehabilitate existing holding grounds as well as build export slaughter houses near these areas. Marketing will also be supported by improving access to marketing information and promoting the formation of livestock producer marketing groups. It is expected that these efforts will open up more markets for Kenyan livestock and livestock products which will in turn translate into improved incomes for livestock producers.

In conclusion, I wish to note that the eradication of rinderpest could not have been achieved without a regional approach involving countries of this region. It is my sincere hope that regional cooperation will continue to be applied to tackle the remaining trans-boundary diseases which still pose a threat to our livestock industries.

Kenya will continue to collaborate with our neighbours, international organizations and other development partners involved in animal disease control in order to achieve this noble goal.

Thank you and God bless you all.