Twice a year HIV prevention Injections set to begin in Kenya
Carolyne Tomno || Kass Digital
Kenya plans to roll out the lenacapavir injection, a twice-yearly pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), in January 2026, prioritizing 10 counties with a high HIV burden. The drug will be available for free to high-risk individuals at selected public health facilities.
Dr. Jonah Onentiah, the PrEP Programme Technical Lead at the Ministry of Health’s National Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Control Programme (NASCOP), said.“The introduction of lenacapavir marks the beginning of a new phase in HIV prevention,
Speaking during a Media Science Café organized by Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) in Nairobi, he said The priority will be given to 10 counties, including Nairobi, Kajiado, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya, Mombasa, Busia, Machakos and Kisii.
“We are excited that the Injectable PrEP provides choices on how people can protect themselves, It is a discreet long acting alternative to oral PrEP and is important for populations that face stigma and adherence challenges “said Dr Onentaih
Josephine Achieng a community health advocate for HIV prevention said ,The product should be made available and accessible to all Kenyans in all parts of the country. “Lenakapaveir gives the flexibility of getting the dosage twice a year, and will reduce the pill burden. “ Said Achieng
Two studies carried out on Lenacapavir prove that the drug is effective in preventing HIV infection. PURPOSE One trial was conducted on cisgender women (those who are born and assigned the gender women at birth) in Uganda and South Africa. The study results found zero HIV infections in the cohort.
Kenya has a significant HIV burden with an estimated 1.3 million people living with the disease and about 20,000 new infections in 2025, according to the National Syndemic Diseases Control council , NSDCC.
