The Ministry of Agriculture is preparing to introduce an innovative e-voucher system for livestock vaccination, designed to modernize animal health management and improve disease surveillance across the country. The initiative will first be piloted in regions with large livestock populations and high incidences of transboundary animal diseases before being scaled up nationwide.
The system will issue digital vouchers to farmers through platforms such as SMS or mobile applications. These vouchers can then be redeemed for vaccines at designated veterinary outlets or agro-vet shops, ensuring equitable access while reducing the risk of wastage. By digitizing the vaccination process, the government aims to strengthen herd health management, enhance traceability, and collect real-time data to inform swift interventions during outbreaks.
During the pilot phase, authorities will monitor vaccination coverage, identify disease hotspots, and build a comprehensive national database of livestock health records. The system is modeled on the successful fertiliser e-voucher programme, which has already improved transparency and efficiency in agricultural input distribution.
The government has set ambitious targets under the new programme, aiming to vaccinate 22 million cattle and 50 million goats and sheep. Priority diseases include foot-and-mouth disease, peste des petits ruminants (PPR), anthrax, and other transboundary infections that have long affected pastoral and farming communities. The digitized system will also support security agencies in tackling livestock theft and curbing the illegal trade in animals.
One of the biggest benefits expected from the rollout is improved disease surveillance. With real-time reporting from the field, veterinary services will be able to anticipate risks, allocate resources more effectively, and respond rapidly to emerging threats. The system will also simplify record-keeping for farmers, allowing them to maintain reliable digital health records for their herds—an important step towards meeting international standards for livestock trade and traceability.
By embracing digital transformation in animal health management, the government hopes to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and safeguard the livelihoods of millions of households dependent on livestock. The pilot programme will also provide critical lessons for refining operations before the national rollout, ensuring smooth integration across all counties.
If successful, the e-voucher system could mark a turning point in Kenya’s livestock sector, boosting resilience against disease outbreaks while aligning with broader efforts to digitise agricultural services.
