Kenya Veterinary Board(KVB)

The Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) is the statutory regulatory authority responsible for supervising veterinary training, practice, and professional standards in Kenya. Established on 13 October 1953 under the Veterinary Surgeons Ordinance, the Board traces its origins to colonial-era efforts to formalize veterinary regulation following the creation of the Department of Veterinary Services in 1890. After independence, the framework evolved into the Veterinary Surgeons Act (Cap 366), and subsequent reforms culminated in the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Paraprofessionals (VSVP) Act of 2011, which expanded the Board’s mandate to include regulation of veterinary training institutions and paraprofessionals. The Board operates under the State Department for Livestock in the national government.

KVB’s mandate is to exercise general supervision and control over veterinary education, business, and professional practice, and to advise the government on animal health, veterinary medicines, animal welfare, and livestock-related public health matters. It registers and licenses veterinary surgeons and paraprofessionals, accredits training institutions, regulates veterinary laboratories, clinics, and animal hospitals, and enforces professional and ethical standards. The Board also maintains national registers of practitioners and veterinary establishments, inspects facilities to ensure compliance with legal and technical requirements, and supports continuing professional development to strengthen service delivery.

Through enforcement of the VSVP Act, 2011, KVB plays a central role in safeguarding animal health, supporting livestock productivity, and protecting public health. By ensuring qualified personnel, ethical practices, and institutional accountability, the Board contributes to the credibility, safety, and competitiveness of Kenya’s livestock and animal resources industry, both domestically and internationally.