Kenya has taken a significant step in its fight against HIV with the arrival of the first shipment of Lenacapavir, an injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) vaccine designed to prevent new HIV infections.
Delivered on Tuesday, February 17, through a partnership with the Global Fund, the initial batch includes 21,000 starter doses sourced from the United States. These doses will form the first phase of the national rollout, which aims to introduce innovative, patient-centered approaches to HIV prevention.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that the rollout, scheduled to begin in March, will focus on 15 counties with the highest burden of HIV. The National AIDS Control Programme (NASCOP) will oversee the distribution and administration of the vaccine.
Speaking during the handover, Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth highlighted that an additional 12,000 continuation doses are expected by April for patients already initiated on the vaccine. A further 25,000 doses from the U.S. Government will follow to support early implementation. Dr. Amoth reassured the public of the vaccine’s safety, noting that it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2025 before receiving World Health Organization (WHO) endorsement.
Lenacapavir works by targeting key stages of the HIV lifecycle, preventing the virus from establishing infection. Its long-acting formulation allows administration just twice a year, reducing the need for daily pills and improving adherence among patients. The government has set the cost at approximately Ksh 7,800 per patient, a fraction of the previous alternative priced at Ksh 4.2 million.
Health officials expect the introduction of Lenacapavir to bolster existing HIV prevention strategies, including preventing mother-to-child transmission, while advancing Kenya’s universal health coverage goals.