- Garissa pastoralists are benefiting from a subsidised livestock vaccination programme targeting remote communities.
- Private animal health providers have been brought on board to improve vaccine distribution and availability.
- The initiative combines disease prevention with wider efforts to protect livestock and strengthen pastoralist livelihoods.
Pastoralists in Garissa County can now buy livestock vaccines at Ksh 3 a dose, down from the standard Ksh 13, under a new subsidy programme.
The county’s Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services launched the scheme with the Regional Livestock Programme (RLP) and Incentivizing Collective Action for Rangeland Regeneration (ICARR), which Prosper Global, formerly Mercy Corps, implements. It runs on an electronic voucher system that lets locally based Private Animal Health Service Providers (PAHSPs) support government vaccination work.
Participating providers buy their vaccines directly from the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) and other approved suppliers. They then carry the doses closer to herders in remote areas. For every dose sold and administered, the government reimburses them Ksh 15.
Officials say the arrangement tackles two problems at once. Vaccines are costly for many herders, and government stocks occasionally run short. With private businesses now part of the distribution chain, communities have another channel for quality vaccines throughout the year.
Director of Livestock Services Haret Hambe said the model would help the county keep vaccinating even when public supplies dwindle.
“This initiative allows us to bring the private sector on board as a reliable partner in delivering animal health services. Government stocks can sometimes run low, but with participating PAHSPs supporting distribution, pastoralists can continue accessing essential vaccines anytime of the year,” he said.
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The campaign is currently running in Sangailu, Ijara and Masalani wards. Livestock from different parts of the county have converged there since the rains began. At the same time, reports of pockets of disease outbreaks have raised the risk of infections spreading, prompting the county and its partners to step up preventive measures.
Vaccination is only part of the exercise. Teams are also treating sick animals, controlling disease vectors, offering animal health extension services and carrying out surveillance at sites to spot emerging outbreaks early.
For local providers, the programme brings more dependable supplies. Some previously bought from Nairobi suppliers whose products were hard to verify, which left them uneasy about what they were selling to herders. Access to approved suppliers, particularly KEVEVAPI, now gives them greater confidence in their stock and services.
RLP programme manager Siyat Moge, who also heads Prosper Global’s Garissa field office, said the approach reflects a deliberate move to place private providers at the forefront of routine livestock vaccination.
“Our role is to facilitate and support systems that can continue functioning beyond individual projects. By working with the county government and local PAHSPs, we are helping create an environment where the private sector can take greater responsibility in service delivery while government provides the necessary regulation, oversight and support. This systems-thinking approach gives pastoralists more reliable access to services while strengthening local businesses,” he said.
Beyond vaccination, the department is also supporting Rangeland Management Committees through ICARR. The committees coordinate livestock movements and promote sustainable grazing as part of wider efforts to strengthen pastoralist livelihoods.
By Benedict Aoya
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