Kenya has received its first shipment of 21,000 doses of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) designed to prevent new HIV infections.
The shipment arrived on Tuesday through a partnership with the Global Fund, marking a significant milestone in the country’s HIV prevention strategy.
The Ministry of Health announced that the initial rollout will begin in March and will target 15 high-burden counties. The exercise will be coordinated by the National AIDS Control Programme (NASCOP).
Speaking after receiving the consignment, Health Director General Patrick Amoth confirmed that an additional 12,000 continuation doses are expected by April to support patients initiated on the drug. A further 25,000 doses are also expected later to strengthen early implementation.
Dr Amoth assured the public of the drug’s safety, noting that it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2025 before clearance by the World Health Organization. In January, Kenya’s Pharmacy and Poisons Board completed its scientific review and registered both oral and injectable formulations for use locally.
Administered twice a year, Lenacapavir works by targeting critical stages of the HIV lifecycle, preventing the virus from establishing infection. The government has set the estimated cost at Ksh 7,800 per patient, describing it as significantly lower than previous pricing estimates.
Health officials say the introduction of the twice-yearly injectable option is expected to improve adherence, expand access to HIV prevention services and support Kenya’s broader Universal Health Coverage agenda, including efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission.
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