The Veterinary Policy is provided for in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya. It aligns developments in the animal resource industry to the Constitution as well as the Kenya Vision 2030 and the international animal health laws, treaties, agreements and conventions ratified by Kenya. The overarching treaty is the World Trade Organization agreement particularly the agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures which Kenya ratified on 23rd December 1994 and came into effect on 1st January 1995. The Policy recognizes that Kenya is a member of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa, the East African Community and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and therefore harmonizes with the relevant provisions of the constitutive treaties for these Regional Economic Communities.
Development and growth of the animal resource industry has hitherto relied on the National Livestock Policy, the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy, the Kenya Vision 2030 and commodity or issue-specific policies among others. However, animal resources by their nature are varied and their functions straddle different institutions and departments. Livestock, fisheries and wildlife constitute the three broad functional domains managed by different institutions; aspects of human, animal and environmental health require cooperation across departments. The Veterinary Policy creates operational linkages among these institutions while recognizing and preserving their functional specialties.
The Policy specifies key challenges facing the animal resource industry and provides direction in addressing each of them. It focuses on ten objectives leading to the realization of the goals in the animal resource industry. The Policy takes into account the constitutional obligations of each level of government, national and county, with regard to development of animal resources and outlines functional relationships between the two levels of government. It identifies major institutions in the animal resource industry as well as collaborating organizations and provides mechanisms of inter-linkages for efficient and effective delivery of services.
The Policy provides an enabling environment for safeguarding animal life, health and welfare as well as animal propagation and production for food security and economic development. It seeks to ensure that Kenyans benefit from proximate and quality health by guaranteeing animal health, welfare and production services. Its implementation will boost contribution of the animal component to food security and ensure that animal products that are consumed or marketed meet the highest safety and nutritional standards. It is expected to ensure that diseases, disease-causing and disease-carrying agents are not transmitted between animals and humans as Kenyans continue to live with, work with and trade in animals and animal products. It was formulated through extensive sector and countrywide consultations including a national stakeholders’ forum. Its implementation is expected to contribute to better livelihoods and greater economic development in Kenya.