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The Union of Veterinary Practitioners Kenya (UVPK) has called out the mediocrity that is taking place at one of the country's most important but corrupt private farms.
In a statement posted on their social media pages, the veterinary Body accuses Kenyatta-owned Gicheha Farm housing the Brookside Processing Plant in Thika of being the ground zero for FMD because of laxity in regulations.
"Three (3) days ago, there was a confirmed outbreak of FMD in Uhuru Kenyatta's Gicheha Farm housing the Brookside Processing Plant in Thika. This comes only 3 years after the president Launched an untested Oil based FMD vaccine in Lodwar, Turkana County in March 2017. Little did Uhuru Kenyatta know that 3 years later, he would be a victim of the disease", reads part of the statement.
Read their full statement below. Statement In 1991, there was an outbreak of Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) in Moi's Kabarak Farm owing to ineffective vaccine used to vaccinate his dairy herd. Moi responded by sacking the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) Managing Director and the entire Board of Directors. Three (3) days ago, there was a confirmed outbreak of FMD in Uhuru Kenyatta's Gicheha Farm housing the Brookside Processing Plant in Thika. This comes only 3 years after the president Launched an untested Oil based FMD vaccine in Lodwar, Turkana County in March 2017. Little did Uhuru Kenyatta know that 3 years later, he would be a victim of the disease. The union of Veterinary Practitioners Kenya (UVPK) warned of serious management gaps at the Vaccine Production Facility but NO one listened. An alarm was raised to the effect that the President was duped to Launch an oil-based foot & mouth disease which had not been field tested but the voices were ignored. When Kenyans decried the presence of vaccines from KEVEVAPI in the market, the ministry went into silence. In-fact the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Fisheries under CS Mwangi Kiunjuri rewarded the KEVEVAPI Board Members who had overseen decline in performance of the vaccine production facility with a renewed 3-year term in Office. And just as they say "Lisemwalo Lipo na kama halipo Laja", President Uhuru Kenyatta Gicheha farm which houses Brookside Dairies has suffered a serious outbreak of FMD despite religious vaccinations. It must be known that Uhuru through CS Kiunjuri appointed a manager at Gicheha Farm into the KEVEVAPI Board in 2015. Sadly, the Board member got intoxicated with tenders and hiring of his son into KEVEVAPI management. Further, Treasury extended a grant of close to Kshs 1 Billion to KEVEVAPI to modemize the facility, Lower the cost of the vaccine by Half & produce the Oil Based FMD vaccine? Have the Kenyan Farmers benefitted from the Tax-Payer Investment? Instead it has been a field day for the CEO & Board members from tenders to unapproved sitting allowances. How can a Board member spend a whole two weeks in the name of Board Business? Has the Directorate of Veterinary Services placed a Quarantine on Gicheha Farm & surrounding Brookside dairies to ensure that the Milk Trucks does NOT spread the Foot & Mouth Disease Virus to other Dairy Farms & Dairy Milk Cooperatives? It must further be known that Devolution of Veterinary Services has Killed the control of Trans-boundary Animal diseases of serious Economic Impact. The BBI Referendum must correct this anomaly. The Medical & Veterinary Human Resource needs to revert to the proposed ONE HEALTH Service Commission. Signed
General Secretary