Why Kenya will roll out injectable HIV preventive drug next year

Director General for Health in the Ministry of Health Dr Patrick Amoth at Afya House on April 1, 2025. [Standard, Kanyiri Wahito]

Kenya will begin rolling out Lenacapavir, a World Health Organisation-approved HIV preventive drug, in 2026 to allow time for the development of national rollout guidelines and determination of eligibility criteria.

According to Health Director General Patrick Amoth, the delay will give the Ministry of Health time to revise existing HIV prevention protocols, train healthcare workers, and plan logistics for distribution and storage.

“It is a new aspect in terms of our prevention strategy, and we are glad that we are among the first countries to adopt it,” explained Amoth.

While commending Kenya's progress in controlling the HIV epidemic, he noted that new infections, especially among young people, remain a challenge.

Health Ministry to draft guidelines on rollout and eligibility for WHO-approved HIV drug Lenacapavir, says DG Patrick Amoth pic.twitter.com/aDjR5FWJ18 — The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) July 15, 2025

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, on his part, expressed optimism about the drug’s impact, saying the ministry had developed an implementation plan through a consultative process and was finalizing national guidelines to support a smooth scale-up.

“The ministry is mobilizing the necessary system and resources to guarantee the timely availability of this life-changing intervention. We call upon all stakeholders to align efforts to enhance delivery platforms and support this transformative journey.”

He added that the government is committed to equitable access, strengthening community engagement, and integrating Lenacapavir into national health policies to reach priority populations.

Kenya is among 14 African countries, including Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, set to benefit from the new injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Lenacapavir is administered by a healthcare provider as an injection under the skin in the abdominal area.

The rollout will be  coordinated by the Ministry of Health through the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP), with partner support from the Global Fund and others.