State to receive 110,000 doses of injectable HIV prevention drug

It is a win in the fight against new HIV infections, as Kenya is set to receive the first batch of injectable HIV prevention drugs.

Kenya will receive a total of 110,000 doses of injectable HIV prevention drug. Of the drugs, at least 34,000 doses will be administered this year, with 21,000 doses administered between January and February.

Additionally, 13,000 doses will be administered in April this year.

The injectibles are funded by the donors among them, 85,000 doses by Global Fund and 25,000 doses through government-to-government.

Among counties with high prevalence of HIV and AIDS will be given first priority. The counties include Siaya, Kisumu, Mombasa, Machakos, Homa Bay, Kisii and Busia. 

The distribution is to be given at a time when the country is recording a surge in new HIV infections and AIDS related deaths, particularly among adolescents and young adults.

The injectable, Lenacapavir, was a major breakthrough in HIV spaces in 2025 and is expected to play a key role in efforts to eliminate HIV, following UNAIDS’ call for countries to end the epidemic by 2030, amid funding gaps.

For a client who is legible, they receive a starting dose of 4 tablets administered as two tablets, 14hours a part and an initial injection on day one, subsequently, they receive one injection every six month.

News of the injectable has been welcomed by Kenyans, among them discordant couples and high-risk populations such as sex workers, as the jab is aimed at preventing HIV infection.

Esther Shiyayo, who has managed life in a discordant relationship for 27 years, says the injectable will avert drug fatigue.

Shiyayo is HIV positive, whereas her husband is HIV negative and is forced to take a daily dose of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) pills.

The resident of Kakamega tells The Standard that it has not been an easy journey for her husband, taking pills every day, yet he is HIV negative.

“We have days that my husband wakes up and feels like stopping the pills, but I encourage him, because failing means risking transmitting the virus to him through unprotected sex,” says Shiyayo.

The couple, married for 27 years, has managed to raise six HIV-negative children, thanks to strict PrEP use and Shiyayo’s suppressed viral load. Still, the daily pill routine has taken a toll on her husband.

“When I first introduced him to PrEP, he had so many questions. He did not like the idea of taking pills every day for the rest of his life. But with time, he accepted it was the only way to protect himself,” she says.

Shiyayo is among many in discordant relationships celebrating the introduction of Lenacapavir, an injectable HIV prevention drug taken just twice a year.

“The injectable will ease the stress of taking pills every day and reduce the pressure of monthly clinic visits. It is a huge relief for couples like us,” she observes.

The couple is among thousands of Kenyans set to benefit from the rollout.

Meanwhile, key populations, among them sex workers, have also welcomed the expected rollout of the injectable drug, saying it will significantly reduce the burden of daily pill taking associated with current PrEP options.

Everly Nabwire, who leads the key population programme at NKOKOIJU, a sex worker-led organisation, says sex workers face a high risk of HIV due to the nature of their work, including condom bursts during engagements.

“Daily oral PrEP is stressful and stigmatising, and many women forget to take pills after late-night work or emergencies,” she tells The Standard, adding that an injectable taken only twice a year will ease adherence and reduce stigma.

In Nakuru, Daisy Achieng, chairlady of the Smart Ladies, a sex worker outfit, says the injectable will make their work safer and less stressful, noting oral PrEP side effects and fear of being mistaken for HIV positive by clients often discourage continued use.

Prof Omu Anzala, a virologist at the University of Nairobi, explains that Lenacapavir is an antiviral drug that directly targets the HIV virus, similar to other antiretroviral medications currently in use.

“It is purely antiviral. It is not a vaccine. It is a drug that targets the virus itself,” says Anzala.

Lenacapavir adds to the suite of HIV prevention options currently available, including condoms, vaginal rings and daily prevention pills.

Anzala observes that the long-acting injectable could help address challenges around medication adherence, noting that clinical data shows the drug has up to 99 per cent efficacy in preventing HIV transmission.

The injection is administered under the skin in the abdominal area by a healthcare provider and is designed to be discreet and convenient.

Trials found little to no difference in rates of adverse events, apart from mild to moderate injection-site reactions. The drug has also shown no adverse effects in pregnancy and birth outcomes compared to oral PrEP.

The rollout will be coordinated by the Ministry of Health through the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (Nascop), in collaboration with partner organisations.

Kenya is set to receive the injection in January 2026 through a negotiated arrangement between the Government of Kenya and the Global Fund in collaboration with the manufacturers.

The injection will be offered to individuals diagnosed as HIV negative and assessed to be at ongoing risk of HIV acquisition due to their occupation or lifestyle.

The country will receive at least 33,000 doses in the first year.