By ADEN KIPRUTO
The Kiambu County Government has rejected claims linking its piglet distribution programme to an outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) that has killed more than 1,400 pigs in the county.
The county government said all piglets distributed to farmers under the programme are sourced from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), insisting that the animals are obtained through established breeding and animal-health procedures.
The programme, which the county said has benefited more than 70,000 men and young people, is implemented in partnership with KALRO and forms part of Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s economic empowerment initiatives.
In a statement, the county said allegations that the programme contributed to the spread of ASF were false and misleading, arguing that the piglets distributed to beneficiaries come from KALRO, a government-owned agricultural research institution.
“Claims linking the programme to African Swine Fever are therefore false and misleading. They disregard the facts, ignore the stringent sourcing measures in place and seek to create unnecessary alarm among residents and beneficiaries, particularly in Kiambu County,” the county government said.
Other independent sources claimed that attempts to link the county’s piglets programme to the outbreak of ASF is tantamount to discrediting KALRO, the government agency that has been breeding and distributing the piglets.
The statement came against the backdrop of an ongoing ASF outbreak that has affected several parts of the country, with Kiambu among the counties reporting significant losses.
According to an Interior Ministry report, 1,470 pigs had died from ASF in Kiambu since mid-May, with the disease reported in more than 20 farms.
The outbreak has heightened concerns among pig farmers, given the highly contagious nature of ASF and the economic losses that can result when entire herds are affected.
ASF is a viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. It does not infect humans, but can cause severe losses among pig farmers because infected animals can die in large numbers and there is no widely available commercial vaccine that can be relied upon to eliminate the disease.
The disease can spread through direct contact between infected and healthy pigs as well as through contaminated equipment, vehicles, clothing and other materials. Movement of infected animals and pork products can also contribute to its spread.
The Interior Ministry report indicated that, besides Kiambu, significant ASF outbreaks had been recorded in Tharaka-Nithi, Busia, Embu, Kakamega, Homa Bay and Migori counties.
The outbreaks have prompted the Government to intensify livestock disease surveillance, including monitoring the movement of livestock as authorities seek to contain further transmission.
The Government has also stepped up other animal-health interventions, including vaccination campaigns against Peste des Petits Ruminants and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, deworming and pest control, as well as measures aimed at strengthening control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
In Kiambu, however, the county government said the ASF outbreak should not be used to discredit its piglet distribution programme.
It said the initiative had enabled households to venture into commercial pig farming, increase their incomes and establish enterprises that provide livelihoods for beneficiaries.
The county described the programme as one of its successful economic empowerment initiatives, saying beneficiaries in different parts of Kiambu had established pig farming businesses after receiving the animals.
The administration said the programme was spearheaded by Governor Wamatangi as part of efforts to create income-generating opportunities for men and young people.
“Unfortunately, some individuals appear determined to politicise the issue and undermine a programme that has delivered tangible economic benefits to thousands of families,” the county said.
It added: “Such attempts cannot diminish the achievements of the initiative or erase the positive impact it continues to have on livelihoods across Kiambu County.”
The county’s defence of the programme comes at a time when farmers are facing heightened anxiety over livestock diseases and the possible financial consequences of losing their animals.
For pig farmers, an outbreak can wipe out a major source of household income, particularly for small-scale producers who rely on pig sales to meet household expenses, pay school fees and finance other farming activities.
The county government said its partnership with KALRO was intended to ensure beneficiaries received piglets through established animal-health and breeding standards.
By sourcing the animals from a government research institution, the county said it had put in place measures to ensure the quality and health of animals distributed under the programme.
The county’s position effectively challenges any suggestion that the distribution programme itself was responsible for introducing ASF into farms in Kiambu.
However, the wider outbreak has placed renewed attention on livestock disease surveillance, animal movement controls and the need for farmers to observe biosecurity measures.
Authorities have continued urging farmers to report suspected cases promptly and avoid unnecessary movement of animals from affected areas, measures that can help limit transmission.
The ASF outbreak has also underscored the vulnerability of Kenya’s livestock sector to animal diseases and the need for close cooperation between national and county governments, farmers, researchers and veterinary authorities.
For Kiambu, where pig farming has become an important source of income for many households, containing the outbreak will be critical to protecting farmers who have invested in the enterprise.
The county government maintained that its piglet programme would continue and that its focus remained on empowering beneficiaries to establish sustainable agricultural enterprises.
It said the programme’s economic benefits should not be undermined by allegations it considers unfounded, while the Government continues with measures to contain ASF and other livestock diseases across the country.
