• Isiolo livestock vaccination drive targets CCPP, sheep and goat pox and PPR to protect herds, strengthen pastoral livelihoods and open international meat markets.

Isiolo Livestock Vaccination Drive Targets CCPP, Sheep and Goat Pox and PPR

Isiolo Livestock Vaccination Drive Targets CCPP, Sheep and Goat Pox and PPR

The County Government of Isiolo has launched a comprehensive Isiolo livestock vaccination drive across all wards, targeting three diseases that have long threatened the region’s sheep and goat populations.

The drive covers Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia, Sheep and Goat Pox, and Peste des Petits Ruminants, commonly known as goat plague.

Veterinary teams have been deployed directly into local communities to administer vaccines and build herd immunity, safeguarding animals that form the backbone of the county’s pastoral economy.

The campaign marks one of the county’s most coordinated efforts yet to tackle livestock diseases at scale, moving beyond reactive responses to outbreaks and instead building protection across entire herds before disease strikes.

The three diseases behind the campaign

All three diseases pose a severe threat to small ruminants, and each one can wipe out a herd if left unchecked.

Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia is a bacterial infection that attacks the respiratory system. Infected animals struggle to breathe, and mortality rates can climb quickly once the disease takes hold in a flock.

Sheep and Goat Pox and Peste des Petits Ruminants are both viral. They trigger fever, skin lesions, mouth sores and pneumonia, often leading to death or lasting disability in affected animals.

For pastoralists in Isiolo, these diseases have been a recurring nightmare. An outbreak can empty a homestead of its entire stock within weeks, erasing years of investment and leaving families without a source of income or milk.

By vaccinating animals across all wards, the county hopes to break the cycle of outbreaks that has kept pastoralists trapped in a cycle of loss and recovery.

Why the campaign is about more than animal health

Speaking at the launch, Chief Officer for Livestock and Fisheries Mr Isaiah Epuri said the campaign was about more than animal welfare, framing it as a strategic investment in the county’s economic future.

He explained that consistent disease control would position Isiolo’s pastoralists to access lucrative international meat markets, particularly in the Middle East, where strict sanitary requirements determine trade eligibility.

“This vaccination drive protects our herds today and opens doors to regional and international meat markets tomorrow, securing prosperity for every pastoralist family,” Epuri said.

His words point to a bigger ambition. Counties in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands have long produced livestock that meets the taste and quality demands of Middle Eastern buyers, but disease outbreaks and quarantine restrictions have kept them out of those markets.

Building a reliable vaccination programme could change that. Buyers in markets like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates require proof that animals come from disease-free zones, and counties that can demonstrate consistent herd health stand a better chance of securing contracts.

Protecting livelihoods and food security

Beyond market access, the campaign offers a crucial safety net for local livelihoods.

Pastoralism remains Isiolo’s primary economic activity, with households depending on sheep and goats for milk, income and daily subsistence.

When disease strikes, families lose more than animals. They lose their savings, their food supply and their ability to pay school fees or meet medical costs.

By curbing disease outbreaks, the county aims to shield families from sudden financial loss while strengthening overall food security.

The initiative also signals a broader push to modernise Isiolo’s pastoral sector through structured biosecurity practices.

Reducing disease transmission and avoiding costly trade quarantines are seen as key steps toward building a more reliable livestock commercial industry, one that can attract investment and support the growth of local slaughterhouses and meat processing businesses.

For a county where livestock is both a cultural asset and an economic engine, this shift matters. It moves the sector from survival mode toward a system that can compete with established livestock producing regions.

What it will take to succeed

Officials noted that sustained collaboration between county leadership, veterinary experts and herders will be essential to achieving full ward-wide coverage and long-term disease control.

Vaccination campaigns in pastoral regions often face challenges. Herds move across vast distances, some families live far from veterinary posts, and trust between herders and officials must be built over time.

The county’s decision to send veterinary teams directly into communities rather than waiting for herders to bring animals to central points reflects an understanding of these realities.

Success will depend on whether the teams can reach enough animals to create herd immunity, and whether follow-up doses are delivered on schedule.

Chief Officer for Agriculture and Irrigation Mr Godana Dida was also present at the launch.

For now, the message from Isiolo is clear. Healthy herds mean stronger households, better markets and a more resilient pastoral economy. The Isiolo livestock vaccination drive is the first step in that direction.

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