Kenya has been named among the first nine African countries set to roll out Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable drug for HIV prevention, by January 2026.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 15, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the move is in a bid to offer sustainable HIV prevention options.
"We are proud to announce that Kenya, along with eight other countries, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, is among the first nine nations selected to introduce Lenacapavir, a ground-breaking long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), by January 2026.
"This milestone underscores our collective determination to expand access to effective, discreet, and sustainable prevention options across the region," the CS said.
Duale further statement that the groundwork for implementation is already well underway.
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According to the CS, the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP), together with key partners, is leading the charge to ensure readiness.
"The Ministry of Health has already developed an implementation plan, and through a consultative process with stakeholders, we are finalizing national guidelines to facilitate a smooth scale-up.
"The Ministry of Health through NASCOP and our partners, we are actively working to ensure this innovative product is accessible to Kenyans by January 2026," he added.
Lenacapavir, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2025 and included in the updated World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in July 2025, is administered twice a year.
Kenya, which currently has a national HIV prevalence of 3.7%, is home to approximately 1.4 million people living with HIV.
Notably, 41% of new infections occur among youth under the age of 24.
"Its integration into our national HIV response strategy reaffirms our commitment to equity, innovation, and community-led health solutions. This biomedical breakthrough marks a significant milestone in Kenya's fight against HIV, offering individuals at substantial risk a highly effective and discreet alternative to daily oral PrEP," he further said.
Duale assured Kenyans that the necessary systems are being put in place to ensure timely availability of the drug.
"The Ministry is mobilizing the necessary systems and resources to guarantee the timely availability of this life-changing intervention. We call upon all stakeholders to align efforts, enhance delivery platforms, and support this transformative journey," he concluded.
