When I first met Asunta Wagura through a mutual friend in 2001

By Joseph Ngunjiri

NAIROBI, KENYA: I met Ms Asunta Wagura through a mutual friend in 2001. She had just started KENWA (Kenya Network of Women with Aids) but was yet to go public about her status. Then, the stigma associated with HIV/Aids was massive. The friend convinced her to go public and I was the one to break the story. Then, people living with Aids were still being referred as Aids victims – the Government of retired President Moi had not yet declared Aids a national disaster.