Kagwe: I will resolve Ruto's livestock vaccine problem
He became a household name during the Covid-19 pandemic for his role as Cabinet Secretary for Health and for memorable remarks such as "If we treat this virus normally, it will treat us abnormally".
Now seeking a return to government, Mutahi Kagwe presented his vision for transforming Kenya's agricultural sector during his vetting for the position of Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture.
Top of mind, he said, is resolving a recent pain point for the President William Ruto administration: the controversial livestock vaccine that caused national uproar, particularly in the veterinary sector.
On this, he promised a parliamentary vetting panel that he will use both mainstream and social media to engage all stakeholders and "cure misinformation" surrounding the issue.
"Livestock owners have the choice of whether or not to vaccinate their animals. I will use the experts to communicate the issue and help demystify the misconception around the vaccine," he said.
The government aims to vaccinate around 22 million cattle and 50 million goats and sheep to combat cross-border diseases such as foot-and-mouth. Scheduled to begin in January 2025, the programme — which has been met with resistance from some farmers — is being touted as a game-changer for Kenya's livestock sector.
"We need to work with livestock farmers to get proper leather or meat. We need to ensure that livestock farmers have insurance for their animals. We need to ensure that livestock insurance is affordable for pastoralists. The premiums are not affordable at the moment."
Addressing the vetting committee on Tuesday, Kagwe emphasised the importance of a farmer-centred approach to achieving food security and agricultural transformation, drawing on his previous experience under former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kagwe, an Uhuru ally, was nominated to Cabinet days after a surprise meeting between President Ruto and his predecessor. He was nominated alongside William Kabogo and Lee Kinyanjui, who will also be vetted by the parliamentary team.
Follow our coverage of today's vetting sessions here
