By Mandere Onyinkwa
Kenya has received an initial consignment of 21,000 starter doses of the long-acting injectable HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), Lenacapavir.
This marks the first phase of the country’s national rollout and underscoring its commitment to innovative, people-centred HIV prevention.
Delivered in partnership with the Global Fund, the shipment is a major milestone as Kenya joins several African countries preparing to introduce next-generation HIV prevention technologies.
An additional 12,000 continuation doses are expected by April to support those initiated on treatment, while a further 25,000 doses from the United States Government will bolster early implementation.
The Ministry of Health, through the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP), will implement a phased, evidence-driven rollout guided by epidemiological data and health-system readiness.
Phase one, scheduled to begin in March 2026, will focus on 15 high-burden counties, followed by two further phases to progressively expand coverage nationwide.
Receiving the consignment, Director General for Health Patrick Amoth reaffirmed the product’s safety, noting its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2025 and endorsement by the World Health Organization the following month.
In January 2026, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board registered both oral and injectable formulations for use in Kenya.
Administered twice yearly, Lenacapavir is expected to cost about KES 7,800 per patient annually, a dramatic reduction from earlier prices of roughly USD 42,000. The initiative aligns with Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage agenda and strengthens efforts to prevent new infections, including mother-to-child transmission.
The consignment was received in the presence of US Embassy–Kenya representative Brian Rettman and Dr Ahmed Omar from Intergovernmental Relations.
