New campaign in Taita Taveta to curb animal diseases and boost dairy productivity
Taita Taveta County, Kenya – Livestock farmers in Kenya’s Taita Taveta County are set to benefit from a digital vaccination campaign that aims to tackle livestock diseases, improve dairy productivity, and enhance service delivery at the grassroots level.
Launched under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), the campaign is focused on the dairy sector and introduces an innovative e-voucher system to streamline vaccine distribution and veterinary service access.
A Digital Approach to Livestock Health
The platform connects farmer cooperatives with veterinary officers, vaccine suppliers, and technology partners including Safaricom and Mifugo 360. By digitizing the vaccination process—from registration to delivery and follow-up—the initiative addresses past challenges related to logistics and resource limitations.
“This is the time to scale up,” said Katuu Mzenge, County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Irrigation and Cooperative Development. “We must ensure every livestock farmer feels the impact of this programme.”
Tackling Disease, Boosting Productivity
Chief Livestock Officer Habibu Mruttu described the campaign as a timely solution to long-standing disease management challenges, while Chief Agriculture Officer Mcharo Mwalugha urged ward-level cooperatives to mobilize, calling them essential to the success of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
NAVCDP County Coordinator Andrew Mbinga emphasized that the goal is to shift communities toward economic self-reliance, supported by:
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Digital vaccine tracking and delivery
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Cold-chain systems to maintain vaccine quality
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Public education campaigns on livestock health
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Strict environmental and social monitoring
Free or Subsidized Services for Farmers
Through the e-voucher system, farmers will receive free or subsidized vaccinations—a significant improvement over previous campaigns that were often hampered by inconsistent funding and slow service delivery.
The programme is decentralized, with ward-level committees made up of government officers, cooperative representatives, and stakeholders coordinating activities. This approach ensures that local realities guide implementation and that farmers remain actively engaged.
A Model for Other Regions
As the digital livestock vaccination programme gains momentum, it is expected to deliver wide-ranging benefits:
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Reduced livestock mortality
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Improved milk yields
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Higher farmer incomes
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Stronger rural economies
With public-private partnerships at its core, Taita Taveta’s campaign could become a model for digital agriculture and livestock management across Kenya and the wider East African region.
“This is more than just a vaccination drive—it’s about building a resilient, tech-enabled dairy sector that empowers farmers,” said Mbinga.
As rollout continues, Taita Taveta is positioning itself as a leader in livestock innovation—leveraging technology to build healthier herds, more resilient communities, and a stronger agricultural economy.