![[Kenya] Samburu herders look at the skeleton of a cow killed by drought at Ntungai village, Isiolo District. [Date picture taken: 01/12/2006]](https://assets.thenewhumanitarian.org/s3fs-public/styles/responsive_large_2x/public/images/2006117.jpg.webp?itok=K0E28VDY "Samburu herdsmen in northern Kenya.")
Conflict and drought are hampering efforts to control the viral livestock disease Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), which has already killed at least 2.7 million sheep and goats and undermined livelihoods dependent on livestock.
Clan clashes in the north-eastern parts of Mandera and Wajir East have disrupted vaccination efforts. "We have enough vaccines and manpower but both insecurity and drought are hampering our efforts," said the provincial director of veterinary services, Wyclife Wangwe. "We suspended the exercise ... after our officers were attacked."
Conflict over resources and banditry in the drought-prone north-eastern region have also displaced thousands of people and prompted population and livestock migration.
"Veterinary officers have visited all parts of the province and they are moving around, but in some cases they found nobody," Wangwe said.
Out of a targeted 1.2 million sheep and goats in the province, only 499,000 have been vaccinated against PPR. "Our target is to cover at least 85 percent of the total animal population in the province," he said. Livestock markets will be re-opened once the target is met.
Although no PPR-related deaths have been recorded in the area recently, there have been livestock deaths due to drought. PPR symptoms include fever, discharges from the eyes and nose and diarrhoea.
Slow response allegations
According to livestock keepers, the vets have taken too long to respond. "The vaccination team has only visited grazing fields near the trading centres and left thousands of animals that have migrated to the remote parts of the districts in search of pasture," John Legei, a resident of Laikipia District in the Rift Valley, said.
"The livestock are not found around trading centres ... thousands of animals have yet to be vaccinated," said Legei. "It is painful that pastoralists are losing their livestock to a disease that can be prevented ... many pastoralists are now selling their livestock."
Samburu resident Fabbian Lolosoli said locals had yet to recover from the effects of drought and increased cases of livestock rustling. "We are also losing livestock to this disease." Samburu is in Rift Valley Province.
The herders were being forced to walk long distances to have their livestock vaccinated, Lolosoli said, adding that this was expensive and risky. Livestock rustling is prevalent in Laikipia, Samburu and Turkana, all in Rift Valley Province.
Quarantine
Meanwhile, a quarantine imposed on livestock movement in the north-east is still in force. The livestock market also remains closed amid ongoing information programmes to encourage participation in the vaccination campaign.
According to the permanent secretary in the livestock ministry, Patrick Khaemba, there is sufficient PPR vaccine after imports from Ethiopia and South Africa. A shortage of the vaccine as well as inadequate skilled personnel and funding have hindered control efforts in the past.
The vaccination campaign, which was launched on 22 September, is targeting livestock keepers in all PPR-affected and high-risk areas in Eastern, Rift Valley and north-eastern provinces, as well as parts of the Coast.
At least four million sheep and goats have been vaccinated in the last two months out of a targeted 15 million. PPR was first reported in the north-western district of Turkana in 2006.
na/aw/mw
Clan clashes in the north-eastern parts of Mandera and Wajir East have disrupted vaccination efforts. "We have enough vaccines and manpower but both insecurity and drought are hampering our efforts," said the provincial director of veterinary services, Wyclife Wangwe. "We suspended the exercise ... after our officers were attacked."
Conflict over resources and banditry in the drought-prone north-eastern region have also displaced thousands of people and prompted population and livestock migration.
"Veterinary officers have visited all parts of the province and they are moving around, but in some cases they found nobody," Wangwe said.
Out of a targeted 1.2 million sheep and goats in the province, only 499,000 have been vaccinated against PPR. "Our target is to cover at least 85 percent of the total animal population in the province," he said. Livestock markets will be re-opened once the target is met.
Although no PPR-related deaths have been recorded in the area recently, there have been livestock deaths due to drought. PPR symptoms include fever, discharges from the eyes and nose and diarrhoea.
Slow response allegations
According to livestock keepers, the vets have taken too long to respond. "The vaccination team has only visited grazing fields near the trading centres and left thousands of animals that have migrated to the remote parts of the districts in search of pasture," John Legei, a resident of Laikipia District in the Rift Valley, said.
"The livestock are not found around trading centres ... thousands of animals have yet to be vaccinated," said Legei. "It is painful that pastoralists are losing their livestock to a disease that can be prevented ... many pastoralists are now selling their livestock."
Samburu resident Fabbian Lolosoli said locals had yet to recover from the effects of drought and increased cases of livestock rustling. "We are also losing livestock to this disease." Samburu is in Rift Valley Province.
The herders were being forced to walk long distances to have their livestock vaccinated, Lolosoli said, adding that this was expensive and risky. Livestock rustling is prevalent in Laikipia, Samburu and Turkana, all in Rift Valley Province.
Photo: Jane Some/IRIN  |
| Conflict over resources and banditry in the drought-prone north-eastern region have also displaced thousands of people |
Meanwhile, a quarantine imposed on livestock movement in the north-east is still in force. The livestock market also remains closed amid ongoing information programmes to encourage participation in the vaccination campaign.
According to the permanent secretary in the livestock ministry, Patrick Khaemba, there is sufficient PPR vaccine after imports from Ethiopia and South Africa. A shortage of the vaccine as well as inadequate skilled personnel and funding have hindered control efforts in the past.
The vaccination campaign, which was launched on 22 September, is targeting livestock keepers in all PPR-affected and high-risk areas in Eastern, Rift Valley and north-eastern provinces, as well as parts of the Coast.
At least four million sheep and goats have been vaccinated in the last two months out of a targeted 15 million. PPR was first reported in the north-western district of Turkana in 2006.
na/aw/mw
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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