Night of honour: Veterinarians celebrate service, sacrifice and animal welfare

As the lights shimmered across the Nairobi skyline on Saturday evening, the veterinary community gathered not just for a dinner, but also a moment of reflection, pride, and celebration.

Hosted by the Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA), the event marked the close of the year with gratitude and hope.

Veterinarians from across the country came together—colleagues, mentors, and trailblazers—united by a shared calling to protect animal life and, by extension, human wellbeing.

Among the distinguished guests was Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, whose presence underscored the national importance of the profession.

Since 1966, he reminded the audience, KVA has been more than an association—it has been a voice. A voice for policy reform, for professional dignity, and for the protection of animals and people alike.

Under his leadership since April, that voice has grown stronger.

From recruiting a dynamic CEO to modernise operations, to engaging policymakers on intern stipends and salary parity for public-sector veterinarians, the association has pushed forward with renewed energy.

New professional clubs, partnerships offering member benefits, and advocacy for increased county-level veterinary employment have all pointed to a future of stronger animal health systems and improved livestock productivity.

Yet, as the night unfolded, it became clear that the heart of the celebration lay in individual stories of service.

When Dr Jane Njuguna was announced as the Veterinarian of the Year 2025 – Animal Welfare Category, the applause spoke volumes.

Hers is a story woven through years of commitment—beginning in the field as a practising veterinarian and rising steadily through the ranks of public service.

Today, she serves as the Deputy Director of Veterinary Services at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, and as Kenya’s World Organisation for Animal Welfare (WOAH) Focal Person. But titles only tell part of her story.

As a former coordinator of the Animal Welfare Forum of Kenya (AWAKE), Dr Njuguna brought together government institutions, civil society, and development partners—often for the first time—under one roof.

Together, they shaped conversations that would later influence the drafting of Kenya’s Animal Welfare Bill, a milestone in the country’s legislative journey.

Earlier in her career, as Head of Animal Welfare, she championed the training of every veterinary intern on animal welfare principles, ensuring that compassion and ethics remained at the core of professional practice.

Her voice has carried beyond Kenya’s borders, representing the country at Africa Animal Welfare Conferences and global forums dedicated to the humane treatment of animals.

As the evening drew to a close and glasses were raised in a final toast, the mood was one of quiet pride. Pride in a profession that often works behind the scenes. Pride in resilience, progress, and the belief that caring for animals is inseparable from caring for society itself.

On this night, under warm lights and shared applause, Kenyan veterinarians were reminded that their stories matter—and that through service, they continue to shape the nation’s future.