Nairobi: Livestock diseases continue to pose a significant threat to farmers' livelihoods, food security, and public health in Kenya. Diseases such as Foot-and-Mouth, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), and parasitic infections reduce productivity, limit market access, and in some cases spread from animals to humans, causing zoonotic outbreaks. Yet many small-scale livestock producers and pastoralist farmers lack access to affordable and reliable disease testing tools needed to detect these diseases early, limiting their ability to respond effectively.
According to Kenya News Agency, in response to this challenge, a high-level workshop on improving livestock disease detection has convened in Nairobi, bringing together government officials, veterinarians, researchers, development partners, private sector actors, and farmer representatives. The meeting was focused on practical solutions to make disease detection more accessible, affordable, and effective for livestock keepers across Kenya.
State Department for Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke emphasized the need for Kenya to strengthen its animal health systems by enhancing diagnostic capacity, a crucial pillar of veterinary service delivery. Mueke stated, "Strong veterinary diagnostics are central to early disease detection, outbreak response, surveillance, food safety, and trade assurance. Without timely and reliable diagnostics, our ability to prevent and control disease is significantly weakened."
Mueke also commended ongoing efforts to bolster Kenya's veterinary laboratory network, improve disease reporting systems, and expand the use of innovation and technology in animal health service delivery. He highlighted the importance of partnerships, sustained investment, scientific innovation, and collective commitment to achieving transformation in the animal industry sector.
Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Allan Azegele noted that early and accurate disease detection is critical for protecting livestock productivity, safeguarding human health, and ensuring food security. "By strengthening diagnostics, we can respond faster to outbreaks, reduce misuse of drugs, and guide targeted vaccination campaigns," said Dr. Azegele.
The workshop was co-organized by the Directorate of Veterinary Services and the Transforming Animal Health Solutions and Services for Low- and Middle-Income Countries platform, operated by GALVmed, the International Livestock Research Institute, and Clinglobal. Its timing is significant as Kenya steps up efforts to control livestock diseases and align with regional and global priorities, including eradicating PPR by 2030 and strengthening One Health approaches that link animal and human health systems.
"We are committed to partnering with governments, research institutions, and the private sector to ensure that small-scale producers have access to the tools they need to manage animal diseases effectively," said GALVmed's Head of Research and Development Dr. Karelle De Luca.
Discussions during the workshop focused on closing the gap between laboratory capacity and the realities faced by farmers, particularly in smallholder and pastoralist systems. Through plenary sessions and roundtable discussions, participants identified priority diagnostic needs, explored innovative delivery models, and co-developed a roadmap to make reliable disease testing a routine part of Kenya's livestock health programs.
The workshop underscored the importance of partnerships, with stakeholders agreeing that stronger collaboration between government, research institutions, the private sector, and communities is essential to build an effective disease detection and surveillance system. "Diagnostics are the eyes of the surveillance system. By aligning efforts from county-level disease reporters to national laboratories, we can build a system that controls disease, supports trade, and safeguards public health," said Musa Mulongo, the Program Coordinator for the Transforming Animal Health Solutions and Services.
Following the workshop, a report and a roadmap outlining key actions, partnerships, and investment opportunities will be produced. By improving access to reliable disease testing, these efforts aim to keep animals healthy, strengthen farmer livelihoods, and better protect Kenya against future outbreaks that could affect both animals and humans.