Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said the government of Kenya is focused on effectively dealing with the tsetse fly, which transmits Trypanosomiasis.
Speaking during the official opening of the 36th General Conference of the International Scientific Council of the Trypanosomiasis Research and Control at PrideInn Hotel in Mombasa, Gachagua said the disease remained a threat to livestock farming in Kenya and Africa.
"Livestock contributes between 30% and 80% to the Gross Domestic Product of Sub-Saharan Africa. But this contribution is under threat from Animal African Trypanosomiasis, which has been linked to economic losses of up to USD 4.5 billion annually," he said.
The DP declared that Kenya is on course to eradicate Trypanosomiasis in a bid to sustain higher income from livestock production.
"In the next two years, Kenya will stop importing leather items. That is why expelling this tsetse fly disease is important as we look forward to spurring the leather industry in Kenya," he added.
Since 2009, Kenya has not reported any case of sleeping sickness, also transmitted by tsetse flies in humans.
Gachagua thanked scientists for working hard to eliminate sleep sickness in the country.
He also called on African countries to work together in the fight against Trypanosomiasis saying the continent has shown it can find solutions to its problems.
"When we meet and unite as a continent, we will find solutions to all the challenges we face," the DP said.
