By Sandra Blessing
Kisumu County has been ranked second nationally with 111,367 people living with HIV/AIDS, as the region recorded 1,341 new HIV infections this year. Out of the new cases, 361 were men while women accounted for 755.
The county also reported a total of 1,166 HIV-related deaths, with 1,050 being adults and 135 adolescents and young adults.
Director of Public Health, Dr. Fred Oluoch, said the county’s prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) coverage stands at 99.3 percent, a milestone that has enabled mothers to deliver HIV-free babies and improved the life expectancy of people living with HIV.
He noted that the planned rollout of injectable PrEP next year will be a transformative step in HIV prevention, reducing pill burden, supporting better adherence, and modernizing treatment approaches.
“By integrating HIV services with NCDs, reproductive health, and mental health, we are building a unified system that ensures no one is left behind. This is especially important for adolescents and young mothers who may require multiple services across the continuum of care,” he said.
Dr. Oluoch expressed concern over rising new infections among adolescents, noting that 49 percent of new adult HIV infections occur among adolescents and young people aged 15–24 years. He added that teenage pregnancies and widening social vulnerabilities continue to expose young people to higher HIV risk.
“Teenage pregnancies are not just statistics—they are red flags for sexual violence, inequality, interrupted education, and increased HIV risk,” he said.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said Kenya has 1,326,336 people living with HIV, and the country requires Ksh30 billion annually to sustain essential commodities for prevention, care, and long-term management.
“These numbers remind us that this fight is not just medical, but a national duty to protect our people and secure the well-being of future generations,” he said.
Mudavadi warned that the country must urgently bridge the financial gap to ensure adequate medicines and prevention supplies for the more than 1.3 million Kenyans living with HIV. He issued the remarks on Sunday, November 30, 2025, while representing President William Ruto at the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration held at Nyayo Stadium.
