A 27-year-old delivery rider from Kawangware has become the first Kenyan to receive the long-acting HIV prevention injection, marking a major milestone in the country’s fight against new infections.
Samson Mutua received two injections of Lenacapavir in the lower abdomen at Riruta Health Centre on Thursday morning, in an event witnessed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
Immediately after the injection, Mutua swallowed two oral PrEP tablets to guarantee day-one protection and will take two more tablets on Friday. After that, he will not need daily pills for the next six months, when he is due for his next injection — in line with national clinical guidelines for the rollout.
“When I heard about the drug that was coming, I was glad to be a volunteer. I was anxious today, obviously I’m being pricked on live TV. It’s a new drug. But I’m feeling enthusiastic about it. I feel protected,” Mutua said.
He explained that he volunteered and qualified for the programme after years of prevention counselling and consistent daily PrEP use.
“My whole identification process began in 2017 when there was an emergency that required blood donation, but I couldn’t donate because I used to engage in risky behaviour. If you have unprotected sex with someone who has not been tested, that falls under risky behaviour,” he said.
Mutua, who also works as a community health promoter in Dagoreti South, said he is using his experience to sensitise young people about prevention.
“This is added protection. It doesn’t mean that because you’ve been given an injection, you stop using other protection methods. There are still other diseases out there,” he noted.
First phase targets high-burden counties
The first phase of Kenya’s Lenacapavir rollout is backed by 21,000 starter doses for 15 high HIV-burden counties, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori and Nakuru, among others.
Health officials say the injection will be offered free of charge at public health facilities under the national programme, as part of the country’s strategy to reduce new HIV infections to zero by 2030.
Lenacapavir is a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) option designed to protect HIV-negative individuals by blocking the virus from establishing infection. After the initial course, it is administered once every six months.
At the launch, Acting CEO of the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council, Douglas Bosire, said Kenya has made significant progress but warned that the fight is not over.
“In 2013, this country recorded 110,000 new HIV infections. In 2024, the number reduced to 15,000. Deaths have also dropped significantly. That is tremendous progress,” he said.
However, he cautioned that HIV prevention must go hand in hand with addressing related social challenges such as early sexual debut and teenage pregnancy.
CS Duale described the introduction of Lenacapavir as a bold step in strengthening Kenya’s HIV prevention toolkit and urged communities to embrace the new option as part of a comprehensive strategy.
Under the phased plan, distribution will eventually expand to all 47 counties, complementing existing prevention methods such as daily oral PrEP and condom use.
