The Kenyan government has announced plans to begin the rollout of a new long-acting HIV prevention drug in March, targeting 15 priority counties as part of its efforts to curb new infections and strengthen public health interventions.
The drug, Lenacapavir, is administered just twice a year and has demonstrated more than 99.9 per cent effectiveness in reducing the risk of HIV transmission. Although often described as a preventive breakthrough, health experts note that it is not a vaccine, as it does not stimulate the immune system but instead works as a chemical inhibitor to block infection.
Kenya is among nine African countries selected last year for the introduction of lenacapavir. The rollout has already commenced in South Africa, Eswatini, and Zambia since December, marking a significant expansion of HIV prevention options on the continent.
According to UNAIDS 2024 data, eastern and southern Africa together account for about 52 per cent of the estimated 40.8 million people living with HIV globally, underscoring the urgency of scaling up effective prevention tools in the region.
Kenya received an initial consignment of 21,000 doses of the drug on Tuesday through a partnership involving Gilead Sciences, the manufacturer of lenacapavir, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. An additional 12,000 doses are expected by April to support continuity of the programme.
Announcing the development, Health Minister Aden Duale said the first phase of implementation would begin in early March, focusing on counties with higher HIV prevalence and greater vulnerability. He added that the United States government has also committed to supplying Kenya with a further 25,000 doses of the drug.
Kenya’s national HIV prevalence currently stands at about 3.7 per cent, and officials say the introduction of lenacapavir could significantly reduce new infections if successfully scaled up.
The planned rollout comes at a challenging time for HIV/AIDS programmes across Africa, following cuts to international aid under the administration of former US President Donald Trump, which affected funding for health initiatives on the continent. Kenya, however, has maintained close ties with Washington and in December signed a $2.5 billion bilateral health agreement.
The deal, reached after the dismantling of the USAID and reduced involvement of non-governmental organisations, commits the US to provide $1.6 billion over five years for health programmes in Kenya, including efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and polio. Kenya is expected to contribute $850 million and gradually assume greater responsibility for funding and implementation.
Despite its significance, the agreement has sparked controversy at home. A Kenyan senator has challenged the deal in court, alleging multiple constitutional breaches, casting uncertainty over aspects of the long-term funding framework even as preparations for the lenacapavir rollout move forward.
