Duale: WHO has declared Kenya free from sleeping sickness
By Cynthia Lodite, August 8, 2025Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has affirmed the Ministry of Health’s commitment towards curbing and preparing for any stronger diseases and outbreaks in the future, while revealing that Kenya is officially free from sleeping sickness.
According to the Health CS, Universal Health Coverage( UHC) will take shape towards ensuring that the country is well prepared to curb stronger diseases.
“With no indigenous cases since 2009, WHO’s 2025 validation affirms our commitment to health system resilience, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strong disease surveillance,” Duale said.
Duale was speaking on Friday, August 8, 2025, during a ceremony themed “One Health One Fight Towards a Sleeping Sickness-Free Kenya,” in Nairobi County.
“Presided over a landmark ceremony themed, “One Health, One Fight Towards a Sleeping Sickness-Free Kenya,” as Kenya was officially validated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for eliminating Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, as a public health problem,” Duale said.
Kenya is Free from sleeping sickness
On the other hand, Daule revealed that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Kenya has been declared free from Sleeping sickness, which had been in the country for close to a decade across various counties.
“This milestone, over a century since the first case in 1901 and decades of risk in counties like Busia, Bungoma, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori and Narok, reflects the power of bold policy, community action and intersectoral collaboration,” Duale said.
On his part, Duale has applauded health workers as well as technical teams who have worked smart, ensuring that the disease is free from Kenya.
“I applauded our health workers, technical teams, expert committee, communities and partners such as WHO and the Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) for their tireless efforts,” Duale stated.
On the other hand, he revealed the Ministry’s plan of scaling up Primary Health Care, Vector control, as well as animal trypanosomiasis management in Kenya.
“As we scale up primary health care, vector control and animal trypanosomiasis management, this achievement also strengthens our national readiness under the Emergency Preparedness and Response agenda,” Duale said.
Likewise, according to the Health CS, he reaffirmed a thorough investment in the National Public Health Institute (NPHI) and Kenya’s active role in the Pandemic Treaty process, also adding that the Ministry is working to resolve to detect, respond to and prevent future health threats.