Members of Parliament have approved Sh280.8 million to shore up HIV prevention initiatives that are under threat due to declining donor support. The move aims to ensure programmes for young people, pregnant women, and other vulnerable groups continue, preventing a potential rise in new infections.
National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) Acting CEO Douglas Bosire told the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health that shifting global funding patterns have left prevention activities exposed.
“In 2024 alone, we recorded 18,900 new infections, with 41 per cent among those aged 15–24,” he said, noting that awareness levels among youth remain low at 55 per cent.
Bosire said that while treatment programmes continue to receive substantial support from donors, critical services like community outreach, drop-in centres, and voluntary medical male circumcision are struggling to survive.
He also highlighted the risk of setbacks in preventing mother-to-child transmission if support groups for pregnant women are disrupted.
Lawmakers expressed concern that cuts in donor funding could undermine Kenya’s commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino asked whether the Sh280.8 million would be enough to curb infections and called for proper documentation to justify any budget increase.
Samburu MP Pauline Lenguris highlighted the dual challenge of high HIV infection rates and teenage pregnancies in her county, warning that ignoring these issues could “cost a generation.”
Committee Vice Chair Patrick Munene emphasized the importance of safeguarding achievements in HIV, TB, and malaria control, describing a resurgence as a serious health and economic risk.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga said discussions with donors are ongoing but the expected support has not yet been reflected in the Budget Policy Statement. The Treasury has been tasked to finalise the development budget by March 31.
Committee Chair James Nyikal urged that critical interventions be prioritised, pointing out that the identified needs already exceed the available resources.
