A 27-year-old delivery rider from Kawangware has made history after becoming the first Kenyan to receive the long-acting HIV prevention injection, Lenacapavir, during its official launch at Riruta Health Centre in Nairobi.
Samson Mutua received the groundbreaking 6-month HIV prevention jab at exactly 8 a.m., in an event presided over by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
The launch marks a significant boost to Kenya’s national HIV response at a time when health officials say bold innovation and collective resolve are critical.
A Turning Point in HIV Prevention
Mutua was administered two injections of Lenacapavir in the lower abdomen. Immediately after the jab, he swallowed two oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) tablets to ensure immediate day-one protection against HIV infection.
He will take two more PrEP tablets on Friday. After that, the injection will offer protection against HIV for the next six months without the need for daily PrEP pills. At the end of the six-month period, he will return for another dose.
Health authorities say this shift from daily oral PrEP to a twice-yearly injectable option is expected to significantly improve adherence, especially among young people and high-risk populations.
1.4 Million Kenyans Living with HIV
According to the Ministry of Health, an estimated 1.4 million Kenyans are currently living with HIV, with thousands of new infections recorded annually.
Officials maintain that prevention remains central to the country’s HIV strategy.
Lenacapavir has undergone all required regulatory and procurement processes in full compliance with national laws and health guidelines through established government systems, with support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Its safety, quality, and effectiveness have been rigorously reviewed internationally and thoroughly evaluated and approved locally by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.
Free in Selected Public Facilities
In this initial phase, the injectable will be administered twice a year and offered free of charge to eligible individuals at selected public facilities in priority counties. The rollout will be phased and carefully managed by trained healthcare professionals to ensure safe, equitable, and responsible access.
Kenya is now among the first countries globally to introduce this innovative HIV prevention option — a move seen as a testament to growing confidence in the country’s health systems and its commitment to ensuring no Kenyan is left behind in the push toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
County multi-sectoral coordinators and Community Health Promoters are currently being trained to support awareness campaigns, community mobilization, and dissemination of accurate, evidence-based information to reduce new infections and protect young people.
High-Level Attendance at Launch
The launch was attended by Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga; NASCOP CEO Dr. Andrew Mulwa; the Ministry’s Family Health Director Dr. Issak Bashir; Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi; and representatives from development partners including the Global Fund, UNAIDS, WHO, US Government (USG), and AHF.
Health officials expressed optimism that the introduction of the six-month HIV prevention injection could significantly accelerate Kenya’s progress in reducing new infections and strengthening its national HIV response.
