NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya is suffering annual losses of more than Sh18 billion from livestock diseases linked to the tsetse fly, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has warned.
Speaking at the opening of the 37th International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control Conference in Nairobi, Kagwe said trypanosomiasis remains a serious threat to livestock and agricultural productivity across the country.
“This has significant implications for our livestock and agricultural productivity, particularly in the rangelands where over 70 per cent of our livestock population is reared,” Kagwe said. “The estimated annual loss due to tsetse and trypanosomiasis in Kenya is around $143 million (Sh18.5 billion).”
Kenya is among 38 African nations grappling with the pest, with nearly a quarter of its land under infestation.
The CS urged researchers to step up efforts to develop lasting solutions, stressing that the fight against the disease demands cross-border and cross-sectoral collaboration, as the challenge transcends national boundaries.
The weeklong conference is themed “Harnessing One Health Technologies and Innovations Towards Eliminating Trypanosomiasis in Africa” and brings together scientists and policymakers to share strategies and research breakthroughs.
Kagwe also highlighted Kenya’s role in the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC), an African Union-led initiative, noting progress in reclaiming land previously rendered unproductive.
“We have made notable progress, and areas previously plagued by tsetse and trypanosomiasis challenges can now support profitable agriculture,” he said.
On the human health front, Kagwe welcomed a milestone achievement, revealing that the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on June 16 that Kenya has eliminated sleeping sickness — also known as Human African trypanosomiasis — as a public health concern.
Sleeping sickness is transmitted to humans by certain species of tsetse flies after feeding on infected animals or people. It primarily affects rural populations involved in farming, livestock keeping, hunting, or fishing.
Experts say eradicating sleeping sickness while scaling up livestock disease control marks a critical step in boosting food security and protecting livelihoods across Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa.
