A growing number of young men are living with erectile dysfunction without seeking medical care, a situation that has prompted a petition asking Parliament to recognise the condition within Kenya's disability and healthcare systems.
Dr. Benson Kibore says the condition has become a neglected public health issue whose effects go beyond the bedroom, affecting relationships, mental health and productivity. Speaking during a Radio Generation interview on Tuesday, he urged the country to confront the issue openly, saying many affected men continue to suffer in silence because of stigma.
"I think all the mess of all these issues is now where we are going to a crisis. Can you imagine that one in every 10 young person in Nairobi... has erectile dysfunction?" he said.
Kibore's remarks come days after he presented a petition to Parliament on July 15, 2026, seeking legal recognition of clinically diagnosed sexual dysfunction within Kenya's disability and healthcare framework.
The petition proposes amendments to the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, and the Social Health Insurance Act to improve access to diagnosis, counselling and treatment for people living with the condition.
According to Kibore, erectile dysfunction has traditionally been linked to older men, but more young adults are now experiencing the condition, making it necessary to shift the national conversation and encourage those affected to seek medical help.
"We have put into statute that one person in a relationship can actually file for divorce... but we are not openly having a conversation," he said.
He said the silence surrounding erectile dysfunction has driven many men to seek solutions through unregulated sexual enhancement drugs, commonly known as "blue pills", instead of visiting qualified healthcare providers.
"So it means these are the persons who are trying their way out... get non-prescribed medications, and that is a whole problem altogether," he said.
Kibore also warned that erectile dysfunction should not always be viewed as an isolated condition, saying it can sometimes point to serious underlying illnesses if left unchecked. He cited the experience of a friend whose erectile dysfunction later led to the discovery of cardiovascular disease.
"What was the marker? He had failed in his duties... in the long run he had a heart attack," Kibore said.
His remarks come as the Pharmacy and Poisons Board continues to caution the public against the circulation of unregistered and counterfeit medicines, including fake sexual enhancement products, saying such drugs pose serious health risks.
Through the petition, Kibore wants Parliament to recognise erectile dysfunction as a disability where it results in substantial impairment. He argues that affected patients should have access to structured healthcare services instead of being left to deal with the condition on their own.
"My first prayer to Parliament is first to recognize that we have a bedroom crisis in the country," he said.
He is also calling for the development of national clinical guidelines on screening, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, saying increased public awareness would help reduce stigma and encourage more men to seek professional medical care.
"We have normalized that abnormality," Kibore said. "The awareness will help with the stigma."