No interruption to access to ARVs, ministry assures Kenyans in wake of Trump aid suspension
Amoth said the country has a supply for the contingents able to run for the next six months for all the 1.4 million Kenyans on HIV treatment.

The ministry of Health has assured Kenyans that the country has enough stock and is well prepared in case the US government halts the supply of HIV drugs and other kits.
Speaking during the weekly media briefing, Director General of Health Patrick Amoth said as a ministry, they have always had a second plan of ensuring they are well supplied in case anything whether natural or unnatural occurs.
Amoth said the country has a supply for the contingents able to run for the next six months for all the 1.4 million Kenyans on HIV treatment.
“I want to assure Kenyans that we have enough stocks for HIV commodities including ARVs and essential commodities. We have strengthened our supply chain in the last one and two years to ensure that at any given time we have more than six months of stock,” Amoth stated.
“Being that the number of people receiving HIV commodities is huge, as a government we have always had in mind that in case of anything that is beyond our control, there should be a plan B,” he added.
The DG reiterated that Kenya and the US have had a very strong relationship and the Ministry is cognizant of the information coming from the US government.
Amoth stated that to address the funding gap, they’ll focus on strengthening the local capacity by ensuring investments made through local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce dependency on external sources.
“We are focused on strengthening local capacity. Investments are being made in local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce dependency on external sources and enhance the resilience of the country’s supply chains. Also, we are forging regional partnerships to ensure a steady and reliable supply of essential medicines,” he stated.
“The ministry of Health is actively engaging with other development partners, international agencies, and private sector stakeholders to secure alternative resources and fill gaps in the supply of essential medicines,” he added.
Kenya has made significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, largely supported by global initiatives like PEPFAR.
Of the estimated 1,377,784 People Living with HIV, 1,352,657 (98 per cent) people know their status, 1,352,657 (98 per cent) have been diagnosed and are accessing treatment, while 1,299,330 (94 per cent) of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression, highlighting the success of effective collaboration whereas ministry works towards achieving the global target of 95:95:95 per cent.
The assurance by ministry comes hours after the World Health Organisation raised concerns over the executive order by President Donald Trump to halt HIV funding programs in low and middle-income countries.
The United Nations body has stated that over 30 million people worldwide will be affected by the halt hence putting their lives at risk.
It stated that over 30 million people worldwide will be affected by the halt hence putting their lives at risk.
WHO added that there may be a surge of new infections and deaths if the funding is stopped.
“We are sounding the alarm on the catastrophic consequences of a funding pause for HIV programmes. This is not just a matter of numbers; it’s a human crisis. Millions of people living with HIV will be at immediate risk of illness and death if we don’t act quickly,” WHO said.
It warned that a prolonged pause could send the world back to the eighties and nineties when millions died from HIV infections.