The Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) has issued a serious warning to employers, cautioning them against hiring veterinary doctors or paraprofessionals who are not licensed.
According to the board, this is against the law and any employer found guilty of doing so could face a fine of up to Ksh100,000, or a jail term of at least one year—or even both.
This announcement was made on Tuesday, April 22, as KVB reminded the public of its official responsibility.
The Board is in charge of overseeing and regulating the training, practice, and employment of veterinary surgeons and veterinary paraprofessionals across Kenya.
This includes making sure that only qualified and licensed individuals are allowed to offer veterinary services.
In its public notice, KVB emphasized that no one is allowed to act as or claim to be a veterinary doctor or paraprofessional unless they are officially registered and licensed by the government.
The Board further explained that if someone’s name is not included in the official register by March 31 every year, that person is automatically considered unregistered and unqualified under the law.
KVB made it clear: “No one should practice or claim, directly or indirectly, to be able to work as a veterinary surgeon or paraprofessional without being registered and licensed. Doing so is illegal.”
The Board also urged Kenyans who are unsure about their registration status to check the official list of licensed veterinary professionals on their website at kenyavetboard.or.ke/en/registers.
This step is meant to help the public confirm whether someone is legally allowed to offer veterinary services.
This is not the first time KVB is taking action against unqualified or fake veterinary practitioners. In August last year, the Board had to shut down a veterinary facility in Nairobi’s Central Business District for violating several regulations.
The facility was found to be operating without proper authorization during a strict inspection conducted on August 6, covering the city center and nearby areas.
Several violations led to its closure. These included selling Prescription Only Medicines (POM) both in-person and online without having the required prescription records.
Additionally, the shop was licensed to operate as a wholesale agrovet but was instead functioning as a retail shop. To make matters worse, the operators were using a fake license.
After closing down the illegal facility, KVB addressed the media and warned all other agrovet businesses to comply with the rules or be prepared to face similar action.
The Board stressed that it will continue cracking down on illegal operations to protect the public and ensure that veterinary services in the country meet the required standards.
In summary, the Board is tightening its enforcement to protect animal health and public safety, and it is urging both employers and veterinary professionals to make sure they are fully compliant with the law.
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