Kenya on Wednesday operationalised its 2025/2026 HIV Prevention Operational Plan, a groundbreaking framework led by the Ministry of Health through NASCOP, NSDCC, KRCS, and county partners.
The plan introduces new HIV prevention tools such as long-acting injectables and the dapivirine ring, aiming to cut new infections in high-burden counties by strengthening access and health worker training.
“The Ministry of Health, through NASCOP, NSDCC, KRCS, county governments, partners and communities, is committed to ending new HIV infections in Kenya,” the Ministry said in its official post.
Under the leadership of Mulwa, Head of NASCOP, the plan enjoys the backing of key funders such as The Global Fund and seeks to translate theory into action across Kenya’s 47 counties.
The plan leverages what Kenya calls a progressive approach to combination HIV prevention, offering a range of proven and emerging tools.
These include condoms, the dapivirine ring, the long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA), and the innovative twice-yearly long-acting Lenacapavir injection.
“The plan reaffirms Kenya’s progressive approach to combination HIV prevention, offering a range of proven and emerging options including condoms, the dapivirine ring, long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA), and the innovative twice-yearly long-acting Lenacapavir injection,” the Ministry noted.
Such an array of options reflects a shift toward more sustainable and client-friendly prevention technologies, moving beyond daily pills or static programmes.
The rollout will begin in ten priority counties, which together account for approximately 53 percent of all new HIV infections in Kenya.
It specifies that eligible populations will include vulnerable groups, including those in closed settings.
“The phased rollout will begin in ten priority counties, which together account for approximately 53 percent of all new HIV infections, focusing on eligible populations, including vulnerable groups in closed settings,” the statement stated.
This targeting is critical given that Kenya’s adult HIV prevalence stands at about 3.7 percent nationally. In certain high-burden counties, the incidence, the rate of new infections, is far higher; for example, Homa Bay County tops the share of national new cases at nearly 15 percent.
Importantly, the strategy recognises that HIV prevention is not just a medical or technical issue but also a matter of human rights and long-term sustainability.
“Beyond expanding access to prevention tools, the strategy recognises HIV prevention as both a human rights and sustainability priority,” the Ministry affirmed.
This reaffirms the emphasis on equity, stigma-reduction, and ensuring that prevention services are accessible and acceptable to those most in need.
To ensure the new tools reach communities safely and effectively, the strategy emphasises capacity building.
The Ministry reports that national-level trainers are already being trained to become facilitators of the prevention methods, including Lenacapavir.
“The ongoing training of national-level trainers is equipping facilitators with advanced skills to ensure the effective rollout and use of new prevention methods, including Lenacapavir, keeping Kenya at the forefront of innovation in the global HIV response,” the statement noted.
By embracing combination prevention and prioritizing innovation, Kenya’s plan sends a strong message: ending new HIV infections is within reach.
But success will require meticulous implementation, tracking, and community engagement. With the groundwork laid by this operational plan, Kenya now moves into the critical phase of execution, the moment where strategy meets the realities of the field.
As Mulwa and his team lead the charge, Kenya’s health sector, partners and communities will watch closely.
