Despite significant progress in the fight against HIV, Kenya’s young population remains at risk, the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council has warned.
While new infections have dropped by 80% since 2013, adolescents and young adults accounted for 41% of new adult HIV cases in 2024.
“Even with these gains, our predominantly young population remains disproportionately affected, particularly adolescent girls and young women,” the Council said in a report.
National HIV prevalence currently sits at 3%, with women more affected (4%) than men (2%). Around 1.3 million people are living with HIV in Kenya, including nearly 63,000 children.
The decline in deaths and new infections has been attributed to expanded antiretroviral therapy (ART) and prevention programs.
By 2024, over 1.2 million people were on treatment, representing 87% of those diagnosed, and 79% were virally suppressed. Mother-to-child transmission has also fallen from 14% in 2013 to 9.3% in 2024, preventing more than 133,000 pediatric infections.
Yet significant gaps remain. Viral suppression among children is just 66%, and antenatal care coverage has not yet met national targets. Certain groups continue to face high HIV prevalence, including female sex workers (27.5%), men who have sex with men (19.1%), people who inject drugs (9.2%), and transgender individuals (22%).
The Council also highlighted the challenges posed by Kenya’s “syndemic” health context, where multiple diseases interact. Tuberculosis remains the leading opportunistic infection for people living with HIV, with over 97,000 cases reported in 2023 and a 25% positivity rate among those living with HIV.
Malaria, sexually transmitted infections, and rising antimicrobial resistance further complicate efforts to curb HIV.
Non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cervical cancer, and mental health disorders are also becoming increasingly common as life expectancy improves for those living with HIV.
The council reported that Persistent stigma, discrimination, gender-based violence, criminalization, and inequitable access to health services continue to make certain populations more vulnerable.
“Persistent stigma, syndemic conditions, and unequal access to services are sustaining new infections,” the Council warned, calling for strengthening of Kenya’s integrated response to HIV and other overlapping health challenges to protect young people and achieve national and global health targets.
According the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC), Nairobi County recorded the highest number of new HIV infections in Kenya, with over 3,000 cases reported in the past year. Nationwide, a total of 20,105 new infections were recorded in 2025, marking a 19% increase compared to previous years.
Nearly half of all new infections were concentrated in just eight counties, primarily located in the Lake Victoria region and major urban centers. Nairobi led in absolute numbers with 3,045 new cases, followed by Migori (1,572), Kisumu (1,341), Homa Bay (1,180), Siaya (873), and Mombasa (817). Busia and Kakamega also reported high numbers of new infections.
In contrast, counties in Northern and Eastern Kenya recorded the lowest numbers of new HIV infections, with Wajir, Tana River, Marsabit, Lamu, and Isiolo each reporting 40 or fewer cases.
The data also highlights a significant gender disparity, with women bearing a disproportionate burden of new infections. In 2025, 13,236 new cases were reported among women, compared to 6,869 among men.
Young people aged 15 to 34 remain the most affected age group, accounting for the majority of new cases.
While the Lake Victoria region counties—Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu, and Siaya—continue to have the highest overall HIV prevalence rates, Nairobi leads in terms of the absolute number of new infections. This highlights the complex dynamics of HIV transmission, where urban centers experience high numbers of new cases despite lower overall prevalence compared to some rural counties.
