Nairobi stocks up on condoms ahead of Africa Climate Summit

Kenyan activist Stanley Ngara, the 'King of Condoms,' prepares city for Climate Change Summit with 400,000 safe-sex supplies.[Standard,file]

As Nairobi prepares to host the Africa Climate Summit next week, a local activist has announced that he has distributed 400,000 condoms around the city centre for the guests and residents.

Stanley Ngara, also known as King of Condom, is the founder of the King of Condoms initiative, which promotes safe sex and HIV prevention.

He said he has stocked his special brand of condoms, called King's Condoms, in high-end bars and shops where delegates and other Kenyans can access them.

"We have been planning for the Africa Climate Summit and already about 400,000 condoms are available within the Central Business District," he said.

"The Summit, which will be held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, is expected to attract more than 20,000 delegates in the city from the weekend all the way to September 6."

Ngara said he has also identified some hawkers who will be branded and have condoms ready in downtown areas where visitors are likely to stroll.

He said his aim is not to encourage immorality but to sensitize people about safe sex.

"During the Summit, the prices of King's condoms will be on offer at some shops within the City centre," he added.

Ruth Masah, the CEO of the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC), said failure to use condoms might erode the gains made in the fight against HIV.

"Condom is a single protection method against sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and pregnancies," Dr Masah said during the Maisha conference in Mombasa, aimed at reviewing progress made in the fight against HIV.

She said correct use of condoms provides up to 95 per cent protection against HIV, other sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. She said failure to use condoms raises the risk of transmission of HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancies.

According to NSDCC data, at least 1.4 million Kenyans are living with HIV, of which 67,869 are children aged between zero and 14. Kenya receives 180 million condoms from the Global Fund and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) every year.

However, the data also reveals that only 45 per cent of men aged 15 to 49 reported using condoms at their last high-risk sex, against 24 per cent of women. Kenya's condom programme is heavily donor-funded, requiring Sh1.1 billion with a resource gap of Sh803 million (71.9 per cent) in 2021.

Ngara has been an advocate of safe sex for more than a decade, working with government organizations to distribute free condoms in slums around Nairobi, Thika and some brothels.

"All roads leading to Harambee Avenue will be closed between September 4 to December 6, 2023, no vehicles will be allowed to join city hall through Wabera Street," Bungei added.

All vehicles accessing the CBD from Valley road will use Kenyatta Avenue and those from Westlands to use University Way through Globe roundabout to CBD.

While those from Ngong road are expected to use Haile Selassie Avenue and those from Mombasa and Lang'ata road to CBD will use Lusaka road then Landhies to the city centre.

Motorists from Waiyaki way and Nakuru general direction intending to access Mombasa road will use the Southern bypass.