Nairobi has emerged as the county with the highest number of new HIV infections in Kenya, with more than 3,000 fresh cases reported over the past year, according to new data released by the Ministry of Health. The statistics come just a day before the country joins the world in marking World AIDS Day.
Nationally, Kenya recorded 19,991 new infections, representing a 19 percent increase compared to the previous year. Young people aged between 15 and 34 accounted for 54 percent of all new cases, a trend health officials say is being fuelled by low testing rates, inconsistent condom use and limited access to prevention services, especially in densely populated urban informal settlements.
As the report was being released, hundreds of athletes gathered at Nyayo National Stadium for the national HIV awareness half-marathon organised by the Ministry of Health and the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council. The event, themed “One Race, One Goal: Ending AIDS among Adolescents and Young People,” featured 21 km, 10 km, 5 km and 2 km races.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga flagged off the race, urging participants to use the event to get tested and embrace available prevention tools. Free testing, counselling and information on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) were offered at the venue.
Mombasa Road was temporarily closed from Nyayo Stadium to Museum Hill to allow the race to run smoothly, while similar awareness activities took place across all 47 counties in preparation for World AIDS Day.
Kenya currently has about 1.3 million people living with HIV who are on treatment. However, officials warn that the rising number of new infections particularly in Nairobi and among the youth remains a major concern. They say sustained awareness, expanded testing and easier access to prevention tools are essential if the country is to stay on track to meet the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat.
With World AIDS Day set to be marked tomorrow, the latest figures serve as a sobering reminder that the fight against HIV is still ongoing and requires collective national effort.
