Kenya among first countries selected for HIV injection vaccine to be rolled out next year
Duale assured Kenyans that the necessary systems are being put in place to ensure timely availability of the drug
Kenya will be among the first countries on the African continent to receive Lenacapvir, a long-acting injectable drug for HIV prevention, by January next year.
This was revealed by the Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale who said the move is aimed at offering sustainable HIV prevention options.
“We are proud to announce that Kenya, along with eight other countries, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, is among the first nine nations selected to introduce Lenacapavir, a ground-breaking long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), by January next year. This milestone underscores our collective determination to expand access to effective, discreet, and sustainable prevention options across the region,” the CS Duale said.
Duale stated that the groundwork for implementation is already well underway.
The CS stated that the National Aids and STI Control Programme (NASCOP), together with key partners, is leading the charge to ensure readiness.
“The ministry of Health has already developed an implementation plan, and through a consultative process with stakeholders, we are finalising national guidelines to facilitate a smooth scale-up. The Ministry of Health, through NASCOP and our partners, we are actively working to ensure this innovative product is accessible to Kenyans by January 2026,” he added.
He assured Kenyans that the necessary systems are being put in place to ensure timely availability of the drug.
“The ministry is mobilising the necessary systems and resources to guarantee the timely availability of this life-changing intervention. We call upon all stakeholders to align efforts, enhance delivery platforms, and support this transformative journey,” he concluded.
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2025 and included in the updated World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines in July 2025, Lenacapavir will be administered twice a year.
Currently, Kenya has a national HIV prevalence of 3.7 per cent is home to approximately 1.4 million people living with HIV.
Notably, 41 per cent of new infections occur among youth under the age of 24.
