Kenya has received 21,000 starter doses of the injectable HIV prevention vaccine Lenacapavir for the initial rollout in priority counties.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the country expects an additional 12,000 continuation doses by April to ensure that individuals who start the prevention injections can complete the full course without interruption.
Duale also revealed that further support has been secured from the United States government to expand access to the vaccine.
Kenya receives 21,000 doses of injectable HIV prevention vaccine Lenacapavir for priority rollout. Photo: Courtesy.
The U.S. commitment includes an additional 25,000 doses, which will strengthen the national rollout and allow more Kenyans to benefit from the prevention program.
According to the Ministry of Health,the Lenacapavir HIV prevention vaccine will be rolled out in phases, guided by national HIV data and county preparedness assessments.
Implementation will be coordinated through the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP) to ensure a safe, efficient, and sustainable rollout.
The first phase is set to begin in early March and will target 15 counties with a high HIV burden before expanding to additional counties and eventually nationwide.
The initial counties selected for the rollout include Mombasa, Kilifi, Machakos, Nairobi, Kajiado, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay, Kisii, and Kiambu.
CS Duale assured Kenyans that systems have been established to integrate the injectable HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir into existing health infrastructure, ensuring long-term sustainability.
The Ministry of Health, through KEMSA distribution channels and strengthened monitoring tools by NASCOP, is set to track the drug’s usage, safety, and commodity management, while also developing a resource mobilization plan to support national scale-up beyond the initial partner-supported phase.
Kenya was named in July 2025 among the first nine African countries scheduled to roll out Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), by January 2026.
The rollout aims to offer sustainable and effective HIV prevention options to at-risk populations.
Alongside Kenya, the other countries selected for the initial introduction of Lenacapavir include Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
This regional milestone reflects a commitment to expanding access to discreet and reliable HIV prevention tools across the continent.
