Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, has announced that the country requires approximately Ksh30 billion to secure essential commodities for HIV prevention, treatment, and long-term care. This funding is crucial for supporting the 1.3 million Kenyans living with HIV and for safeguarding future generations. Mudavadi made this announcement while representing President William Ruto at the 2025 World AIDS Day national commemoration held at Nyayo Stadium.
According to Mudavadi, the fight against HIV and AIDS is not just a medical issue, but a national duty to protect the people and secure the well-being of future generations. He noted that HIV and AIDS have shaped Kenya’s social and health landscape for over four decades, testing national resilience but also inspiring progress. Recent gains include 87% of Kenyans living with HIV being on antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 90.1% Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) coverage, contributing to healthier mothers and HIV-free newborns.
The Kenyan government has reaffirmed its commitment to guaranteeing comprehensive prevention, care, and treatment services for all Kenyans. Through collaboration with partners, the government aims to ensure life-saving medication reaches all who need it. To achieve this, Kenya has launched the Kenya AIDS Integration Strategic Framework (KAISF) 2025-2030, a policy shift aimed at ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The framework integrates HIV services with broader health areas, including TB, STIs, mental health, reproductive health, and noncommunicable diseases, creating a unified, people-centred care model.
However, officials have raised alarm over a 19% surge in new HIV infections, which increased from 16,752 in 2023 to 19,991 in 2024. The sharpest spike occurred among adolescents aged 10-19, who experienced a 34% increase in new infections. This trend has been described as “aggressive and worrying,” with calls for the country to confront the challenge decisively. The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) has linked the rise to the broader Triple Threat of HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and sexual and gender-based violence, which disproportionately affect adolescents and young women.
The integration of HIV services with routine primary and chronic disease services has shown practical benefits, including enhanced continuity of care, reduced stigma, and improved patient experience. However, stronger national leadership is needed to guide the transition and develop a national integration guideline to help counties standardize HIV care. As Kenya marks World AIDS Day 2025, the country has reaffirmed its commitment to ending the HIV epidemic, with a focus on sustained investment, collaboration, and innovation to protect the health and well-being of its citizens.