Mirian Gom 
NAIROBI – Kenya prepares to deploy a new long-acting HIV-prevention drug across 15 priority counties, marking a major shift in the country’s fight against new infections.
The Health Ministry on Wednesday says rollout of lenacapavir, taken just twice a year, begins in early March after evidence shows it reduces HIV transmission risk by more than 99.9 per cent.
Kenya joins South Africa, Eswatini and Zambia in early adoption, after being selected among nine African countries for initial rollout. The drug, produced by Gilead Sciences, is supplied through a partnership with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS.
Health Minister Aden Duale says Kenya has received 21,000 doses, with another 12,000 continuation doses expected by April.
“The first phase will cover 15 counties with the highest burden,” Duale says, adding that the United States has also pledged 25,000 additional doses.
Eastern and southern Africa account for 52 per cent of the world’s 40.8 million people living with HIV, according to UNAIDS data. Kenya’s HIV prevalence stands at 3.7 per cent.
The rollout comes as African health systems confront foreign aid cuts. Kenya recently signed a $2.5 billion bilateral health agreement with the US, committing to gradually assume greater responsibility for HIV, malaria and polio programmes.
However, the deal faces legal challenge from a Kenyan senator, citing constitutional concerns.
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Otamere Gladness 
Koko Maxwella 
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