U.S., Kenyan veterinary teams deliver livestock care during Justified Accord 2026

KENYA – U.S. and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) veterinary teams joined forces to deliver essential livestock care to farmers at Archer’s Post in northern Kenya as part of the Veterinary Civic Action Program (VETCAP) during exercise Justified Accord 2026 (JA26).

The joint mission, held on March 10, 2026, saw U.S. and Kenyan veterinarians work together at a local livestock market to administer medications and provide basic health services to cattle, goats and other animals. 

The effort formed part of JA26, U.S. Africa Command’s largest multilateral training exercise in East Africa, designed to build partner capability and support healthier, more resilient communities that contribute to regional stability.

The week prior, military and civilian veterinarians conducted a three‑day K9 Tactical Combat Casualty Care course at the Humanitarian Peace Support School in Nairobi. 

The training strengthened skills in animal medical response and highlighted the growing need for robust veterinary capacity across both military and civilian sectors.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Amanda Owens, a civil affairs officer with U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF‑AF), worked side by side with KDF veterinarians.

They supported the Archer’s Post livestock population, underscoring the role of veterinary care in food security and economic resilience in pastoral communities.

JA26’s broader mission and livestock health linkages

JA26 engages U.S. and partner-nation medical and veterinary professionals to deepen long-term military relationships.

They enhance preparedness for humanitarian assistance, crisis response and peacekeeping missions under United Nations and African Union mandates.

Led by SETAF‑AF and hosted across Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania, the exercise enhances interoperability, readiness and integrated health capacity across allied forces. 

Veterinary civic action programs like VETCAP are key humanitarian components of the exercise, especially in regions where livestock are central to economic stability and food systems.

Local livestock markets are economic lifelines in northern Kenya, where pastoral production systems support millions of households and contribute to regional feed and protein chains. 

Healthy herds translate into stronger feed demand, improved market value for livestock products, and more stable food supply chains, all of which are critical for countries seeking to strengthen both livestock production and economic security.

Government and partner veterinary initiatives in Kenya

Kenya’s focus on livestock health extends beyond JA26 and ILRI‑linked vaccination campaigns. 

The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, operates ongoing livestock disease monitoring and vaccination programmes targeting diseases such as foot‑and‑mouth disease, peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and tick‑borne infections. 

These efforts aim to reduce outbreaks that can devastate herds, disrupt feed cycles and weaken rural economies.

Through ongoing government efforts, international partnerships, and multinational exercises such as JA26, Kenya’s livestock health systems are gradually strengthening, with positive knock‑on effects for animal husbandry, feed markets and rural livelihoods.

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