Governor Joseph Lenku on Wednesday led the county livestock farmers in the vaccination exercise at Enkaroni in Purko Ward, Kajiado Central sub-county.
During the exercise, Lenku said his government in collaboration with partners such as Welt Hunger Hilfe and VSF, Germany had released 100,000 doses against foot and mouth disease.
Lenku added that more than 95,000 doses against blue tongue disease and a further 800 doses against rabies were released on the same day.
“This vaccination drive begins today across the county and I am urging all the livestock owners to take the time and bring their animals for vaccination at the usual designated areas in their localities,” said the governor.
He said the exercise is meant to promote the county’s prong on modulated pastoralism that will see the region’s livestock have quality meat and milk.
During the prolonged drought that extended from March 2020 to November 2022, the World Metrological Organisation termed the drought as the longest to hit the greater horn of Africa in 40 years.
As of February 2023, Kajiado was listed among the 9 counties classified in the ‘Alarm’ drought phase.
According to last year’s National Drought Management Authority report, Kajiado County lost 38.8 of its livestock population.
That is 252,592 out of 652,856 between September and November 2022.
The pasture in the county has been decreasing as a result of the extended drought and the impact of climate change.
With the population of the county predominantly pastoralists who majorly depend on livestock for their livelihoods, a nomadic lifestyle has been vital to the residents.
However, the limited grazing fields that are mainly shared by wild animals and dried shrunken water sources are a threat to their survival.
When Lenku took over the office in 2017, he promised the people of Kajiado that he would fully fund his pet project of planting hay across the region, but the project failed to take off.