We'll pay for vaccination of all cows - Ruto

President William Ruto on Thursday said his government will foot the vaccination of all cows in the country to eliminate disease.

Speaking to dairy farmers during his tour of Meru County, Ruto said his government has received complaints from foreign buyers who expressed concerns over presence of impurities in milk imported from Kenya.

Ruto said that it is for this reason,  that the government will launch a nationwide vaccination programme for all cows.

"We have looked for funding and now every cow in Kenya, 22 million heads of livestock will be vaccinated and paid for by the government of Kenya," he said.

The head of state also asked governors to formulate strategies aimed at ensuring vaccination of all cows.

He noted that vaccination of livestock must be done across the country to eliminate livestock disease.

Ruto urged dairy farmers to plan accordingly in readiness for the countrywide vaccination exercise.

He also highlighted that while on the State trip to the US, he agreed with President Biden that dairy products from Kenya have a potential market in the US.

"Nataka tukubaliane, ili tuweze kufungua ile soko Marekani, lazima tuondoe magonjwa, tuweke disease free zone, tuhakikishe pia ile ng'ombe tunauza ya nyama iko disease free."

He said the initiative will allow Kenya to tap into the wider dairy products market.

"Niko na habari njema, tayari maziwa yetu tunauza Tanzania, South Sudan, Somalia na UAE; mwaka huu tumeuza maziwa ya bilioni saba na laki mbili exported out of Kenya," he said.

Ruto added that in his upcoming meeting with the President of the UAE, he will also discuss ways of widening the market for milk products.