Kiambu defends piglet programme as swine fever kills 1,470 pigs
The county, in a statement, said the disease was a national animal health challenge and was not unique to Kiambu, as it sought to distance Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s piglet programme from the outbreak.
Nairobi, Kenya - The Kiambu County Government has refuted allegations that its piglet distribution program contributed to the recent outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) that has claimed the lives of approximately 1,470 pigs across more than 20 farms in the region since mid-May. In a statement, the county emphasized that ASF is a nationwide animal health crisis, not a localized issue, as it sought to separate Governor Kimani Wamatangi's piglet program from the outbreak.
This came as farmers in Kiambu continued to grapple with substantial losses, with some herds experiencing mortality rates of up to 100 percent.
The highly contagious disease has primarily affected areas in Juja, Thika, and Ruiru, leading to significant financial burdens for farmers who had built their livelihoods over several years. One farmer in Ruai, for instance, lost all 156 pigs within 72 hours, resulting in losses amounting to nearly Sh3 million. This downturn has raised concerns among pig farmers about the future of the industry, with some hesitating to restock their herds.
Responding to claims that animals distributed under the piglet program could have played a role in the outbreak, the county asserted that all pigs supplied to beneficiaries are sourced from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), a government-owned research institution. The program, led by Governor Wamatangi, collaborates with KALRO and adheres to established animal health and breeding standards.
The county dismisses any attempt to link its piglet program to the ASF outbreak, stating that such accusations directly implicate KALRO, a national government parastatal, of breeding and distributing infected animals, which is categorically untrue.
The program has benefited over 70,000 men and young people in Kiambu, enabling households to engage in commercial pig farming and enhance their incomes. The county maintains that the claims connecting the program to ASF are "false and misleading." The ongoing outbreak has highlighted the devastating impact of ASF, which lacks a commercially available vaccine or cure.
The disease can spread rapidly among pigs, and in severe outbreaks, it can wipe out entire herds. To combat the disease, biosecurity remains the primary defense, with farmers advised to limit the movement of people, animals, and equipment between farms and report suspected cases promptly.
For farmers who have lost entire herds, recovery poses substantial challenges, including finding replacement breeding stock, recovering investments in housing and feed, and restoring income streams that may have vanished within days. The outbreak has drawn renewed attention to disease surveillance, farm biosecurity, and the need for compensation or support mechanisms for farmers who suffer losses due to outbreaks.
The government has bolstered surveillance and response efforts, while also monitoring livestock movement to prevent the disease's further spread.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
