The Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA) has responded after an East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament was filmed administering injectable veterinary drugs to livestock. EALA MP David Ole Sankok is facing public outrage and the threat of legal action after he was filmed administering injectable veterinary drugs to livestock without proper qualifications or a license, an act KVA has condemned as a violation of both professional standards and national laws governing the practice of veterinary medicine.
According to the association, the video — which was posted on Sankok’s official Facebook page on August 4, 2025, but has since been deleted — captured the MP personally injecting livestock, despite lacking any professional training or certification as a veterinarian.
KVA cited clear breaches of the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Paraprofessionals (VSVP) Act, Cap. 366, and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) Regulations, 2015, which prohibit unregistered individuals from administering veterinary treatments or handling veterinary medicines.
In a public statement issued on August 21, the association expressed alarm that an elected leader would openly flout laws designed to protect both animal welfare and public health.
The association warned that Sankok’s actions are not only illegal but also dangerously irresponsible, especially at a time when the global community is grappling with the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
“KVA warns that such reckless acts not only endanger animal welfare but also pose a serious threat to public health. Improper use of veterinary drugs accelerates antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – a silent global pandemic responsible for an estimated 1.27 million deaths annually and projected to cause 10 million deaths per year by 2050 if unchecked. Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to bear the heaviest burden due to weak regulatory enforcement and limited access to quality veterinary services,” read part of the statement.
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KVA responds after EALA MP is filmed injecting livestock
Further, the association emphasized that veterinary professionals undergo years of academic and practical training to safely administer treatments with consideration for dosage, withdrawal periods, and the potential impact on human food chains.
It warned that when untrained individuals administer drugs, livestock may receive incorrect dosages, leading to drug-resistant pathogens.
In addition, contaminated meat, milk, and eggs can enter the consumer market, posing severe health risks. Infected animals can also become vectors for resistant bacteria, further straining Kenya’s already burdened public health system.
Sankok’s conduct, KVA added, also raises serious concerns regarding his ethical responsibilities as a state officer. Under Chapter Six of the Constitution, public officials are required to uphold integrity, respect the rule of law, and protect public trust.
The association noted that the MP initially dismissed public concerns and only deleted the video after criticism mounted. This, they argue, demonstrates a disregard not only for the law but also for public safety and the veterinary profession.
More troubling, according to the association, is the fact that more than two weeks after the incident was brought to public attention, no enforcement agency has taken concrete steps to investigate or prosecute the matter.
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KVA warned that failure to act would erode public confidence in the justice system, reinforcing the perception that powerful individuals are above the law.
“A two-tier law enforcement system which comes down hard against the lowly while turning a blind eye towards violations by the mighty is not what Kenyans envisioned when we bequeathed ourselves and future generations what was termed “one of the most progressive constitutions in the world” in 2010. This apparent inaction flies in the face of the recent public commitment by the President to fight corruption and other vices,” the statement added.
MP Sankok risks prosecution
KVA has formally petitioned several regulatory and oversight bodies to take action, including the Kenya Veterinary Board, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
It is demanding a full investigation into Sankok’s actions, enforcement under the Leadership and Integrity Act, and prosecution under the relevant veterinary laws.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to defending the veterinary profession’s integrity and protecting public health and food safety in Kenya. It urged the government and relevant authorities to take immediate and decisive action, emphasizing that unchecked impunity not only endangers lives but also undermines Kenya’s reputation in global public health efforts.
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