The Kenya Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA)has opened a new branch in Watamu.
This follows a mid-August vaccination drive that inoculated more than 500 dogs in partnership with the Kilifi County Government.
The expansion aims to boost rabies control and address the rising number of stray and abandoned animals in the fast-growing coastal town.
KSPCA said the new branch will improve access to veterinary care, rescue services, and community outreach programmes.
“The launch of our Watamu branch exemplifies our commitment to enhancing animal welfare on a national level,” Executive Officer at KSPCA Nairobi Emma Ngugi said.
"With Watamu’s growing population, it is vital that we come together to help both stray and domesticated animals lead healthier and happier lives.”
Rabies remains a serious public health concern in Kenya, with cases reported annually.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), vaccination is the most effective prevention measure, yet many pets in the region remain unvaccinated.
The country is estimated to have 4.2 million dogs, but only around 25,000 have been vaccinated.
Barriers to vaccination include cost, poor access to veterinary services, lack of awareness among owners, and, in some cases, logistical challenges in rural and pastoralist communities.
KSPCA Watamu has already conducted several community medical camps this year, including the August rabies drive, and plans to hold more in 2026.
Upcoming initiatives include spay-and-neuter programmes, routine vaccinations, and welfare support for low-income pet owners.
“We plan to hold regular medical camps for both pets and stray animals," Chairperson of KSPCA Watamu Tania Harris said.
“A community that prioritises animal well-being not only improves lives but can also enhance tourism and local economic growth.”
The Watamu branch joins KSPCA’s growing network of centres in Nairobi, Naivasha, Nanyuki, and Mombasa, expanding its national reach in animal welfare and rabies control.
The Kenya Society for Protection and Care of Animals (KSPCA) is the only charitable animal welfare organisation in Kenya that deals for the most part with domestic animals.
It evolved over the years, starting sometime after 1910 when some ladies took pity on the oxen bringing goods into Nairobi from the surrounding districts.
The Society, as an official body, started in Mombasa. At that time, it was known as the East African Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Nairobi followed suit shortly afterwards.
Initially, the society seemed more concerned with rabies control, the inspectors’ main task being to shoot stray dogs.
