The Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) has called on the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Labour to end a 19-year salary gap between veterinary doctors and their medical counterparts, emphasizing unsafe field conditions and unimplemented harmonization efforts. KVA President Dr. Kelvin Osore presented the association’s demands to the committee, stating that veterinary professionals undergo five years of clinical training and a one-year internship, akin to medical doctors, yet face lower pay and hazardous work environments. 'We operate in uncontrolled field environments, exposed to rabies, anthrax, and Rift Valley Fever, but patience should not be mistaken for contentment,' Osore said, highlighting the association’s 2007 job evaluation recommendation for salary alignment and a 2017 National Treasury allocation of Ksh. 449 million, which the Salaries and Remuneration Commission declined to implement.
KVA’s petition includes specific allowances, such as a Ksh. 50,000 health risk allowance, non-practice allowances ranging from Ksh. 12,000 to 60,000, and a harmonized internship stipend of Ksh. 180,000–208,000, mirroring medical doctors’ pay. The association also raised concerns about staffing shortages, with many counties lacking sufficient veterinary personnel, and criticized the prevalence of unqualified practitioners and substandard veterinary products. Committee Chair Ken Chonga (Kilifi South) acknowledged the petition’s merits but stressed the need to investigate why previous proposals, including the 2017 funding, were not executed, stating, 'We must establish who was responsible for implementation and what went wrong.'
Committee Vice Chair Fabian Muli (Kangundo) criticized the fragmented regulatory structure of veterinary professionals, noting their division between a welfare association and the Kenya Veterinary Board. 'A unified statutory body would grant you direct licensing power and stronger bargaining clout,' he argued. Ernest Kagesi (Vihiga) highlighted the legal disadvantages of veterinarians, who are registered under the same law as welfare clubs, unlike chartered bodies like the Kenya Medical Association. The committee also demanded documentary evidence of the 2007 harmonization proposal, with Peter Kihungi (Kangema) stressing, 'The original Government instruments are critical to determining responsibility and guiding our recommendations.'
The committee expressed general support for the petition but emphasized the need for further evidence before finalizing its report. It is set to hear from senior officials, including the Principal Secretaries for Livestock Development and Public Service, as well as the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, ahead of its conclusions. The dispute underscores broader public health concerns, as underpaid and understaffed veterinarians risk compromising disease surveillance and food safety, with the KVA urging policymakers to address systemic inequities in the sector.
Kenya's Veterinary Association Seeks Resolution of 19-Year Pay Disparity with Medical Professionals