Kenya marked World AIDS Day on December 1, 2025 with a renewed national call to action, unveiling a sweeping new strategy to confront a resurgence of HIV infections, particularly among young people.
The event, which drew thousands to a national half-marathon in Nairobi, also saw the launch of the Kenya AIDS Integration Strategic Framework (KAISF) 2025–2030, a policy overhaul expected to significantly reshape the country’s HIV response.
Speaking as Guest of Honour, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi issued one of the strongest warnings yet from the national government, acknowledging that the country is facing a renewed HIV crisis.
Adolescents and young adults now account for 41% of all new HIV infections, a trend he said demands urgent and coordinated action.
“The resurgence is worrying, the resurgence is aggressive, and the resurgence needs to be checked before it finishes our young generation,” he said, calling on counties, communities, and national leadership to intensify prevention efforts, particularly for adolescents.
His remarks followed a briefing by NSDCC Acting CEO Douglas O. Bosire, who presented new data showing that the country’s progress in controlling HIV is slipping.
The latest HIV estimates reveal a 19% increase in new infections, rising from 16,752 in 2023 to 19,991 in 2024, the highest jump in recent years. The sharpest escalation occurred among adolescents aged 10–19, who recorded a 34% increase in new infections—placing them at the centre of what officials described as a “national public health alarm.”
The newly launched KAISF 2025–2030 is now positioned as the government’s flagship response to this trend. The framework aims to integrate HIV services into the broader health system, combining HIV, TB, STIs, mental health, reproductive health, and chronic disease care.
Officials say this will not only modernize service delivery but also strengthen the national response at a time of declining donor funding.
According to Dr. Kinyanjui, Country Program Manager, early results from counties that have begun integrating services show improved continuity of care and reduced stigma.
He urged the national government to issue a standardized integration guideline to prevent uneven implementation across counties. “HIV integration is a powerful opportunity to eliminate stigma, but we need to strengthen our communication,” he said. “We are requesting a national guideline to help counties standardize HIV care.”
The World AIDS Day Half Marathon served as a symbolic centrepiece of the national commemoration, bringing together athletes, healthcare workers, youth groups, civil society organizations, and community leaders.
The event highlighted the country’s collective resolve to protect young people and regain momentum toward the global target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
As Kenya confronts an alarming rise in HIV infections, today’s announcements signal a decisive shift in strategy, one centred on service integration, youth-focused interventions, and stronger national leadership.
Whether the new framework can reverse the upward trend will be a critical test for the country’s health system in the coming years.
