The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Kisumu County now stands at 11 per cent against the national prevalence currently at three per cent.
Speaking during this year’s World AIDS Day celebration held at Kisian Primary School in Kisumu West Sub-county on Monday, the County Director for Public Health and Sanitation Dr. Fredrick Oluoch revealed that Kisumu has over 111,000 people living with HIV, including more than 6,200 children.
Out of these infections, over 80,000 are on life prolonging drugs (Anti-retroviral- ARV) which work by reducing the viral load and boosting body immunity thereby helping the patient to live longer and more productive lives. This year`s theme was: Overcoming Disruption, Transporting Response.
“The theme today not only calls us to respond, but also transform the way we respond by being innovative and adaptive to reach young people where they are with services tailored to suit their needs,” Dr. Oluoch noted.
He revealed that in the past year alone, the county recorded 1,341 new infections, 265 of them being adolescents aged 10-19.
“Our young generation is being threatened by the new rising HIV infections among adolescents and young people between ages 15-25 years and there is need for urgent and collective efforts to save this generation,” Dr. Oluoch said.
He revealed that 49 per cent of all new adult HIV/ AIDS infections were among this age group, with teenage pregnancies contributing 14 per cent of all ante-natal care attendances, amid increasing vulnerability among the group.
But it’s not all gloom, Dr. Oluoch announced that Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV programme in the county now stands at 99.3 per cent and this has enabled mothers deliver healthy babies free from HIV, while at the same time prolonging the lives of HIV positive mothers.
“Among our young people, let’s all strive to end the triple threats; ending AIDS, early pregnancies among the adolescents and sexual and gender violence. As a county we uphold the spirit of multi-sectorial approach, even in the face of shrinking funding form partners and continue working together to save lives,” he said.
He added that the planned rolled –out of Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an HIV medicine taken by people who do not have HIV that reduces the risk of getting HIV during sex, which is set for next year would also reduce the burden of the pill, help better adherence to medication as far as HIV/AIDS is concerned and modernize the treatment aspect of HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Oluoch noted that a strong response to HIV requires strong health system. To this end, he stated that the Government would continue to expand financial protection and make quality healthcare accessible to all Kenyans especially descendants and young mothers who may require multiple services across the range of care.
He advised people with HIV/ AIDS to live positively by observing good health through a proper diet, exercise and using protection when having sex to avoid infecting and being re-infected with the virus.
“This will also help prevent opportunistic infections which HIV/ AIDS positive people are prone to,” Oluoch noted,
“Data from the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC) shows that in 2024, the national HIV prevalence stood at 3.0 per cent, with higher rates among females (4.0 per cent compared to males (2.0 per cent).
The total population infected by HIV/ AIDS in Kenya is estimated to be 1.4million people with 78 per cent being on life prolonging drugs and 22, 000 new infections reported in the country during the period.
Further, the survey shows that HIV related deaths increased by 0.05 in 2024, as 21,007 deaths were recorded. This was a rise from 18,473 in 2023.
NSDCC data also shows that in 2025, Kenya recorded a 52 per cent decrease in new HIV infections. As of 2024, 1,326,336 Kenyans were living with HIV, among them 62,798 children.
NSDCC also reveals that in 2022, Kenya ranked 11 in the world in terms of HIV epidemic, reporting a prevalence of 3.7 per cent. The annual HIV incidence was 15 per 1000 among adult women and 13 per 1000 among adult men (15−64 years) in 2018.
Kisumu County has recorded the highest number of new HIV infections. Data from the NSDCC shows that in the last year, new infections have risen by 19 per cent, up from 16,752 to 19,991.
Ten (10) counties; Nairobi, Migori, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Busia, Siaya, Kakamega, Nakuru, Mombasa, and Bungoma, accounted for 60 per cent of all new HIV infections in 2024.
Nairobi County led with 3,045 new infections, followed by Migori (1,572) and Kisumu (1,341). The NSDCC noted that the concentration of new infections in the 10 counties shows persistent regional disparities, calling for segregated county-led interventions to achieve equitable epidemic control.
by Mabel Keya-Shikuku
