KENYA SECURES FIRST BATCH OF HIV PREVENTION INJECTABLE LENACAPAVIR

Kenya has received Lenacapavir, a revolutionary injection that protects against HIV and requires administration only twice per year.

The inaugural shipment arrived on Tuesday evening, marking a step forward in the country’s ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS.Unlike conventional daily oral PrEP tablets, Lenacapavir is administered as an injection once every six months. 

The medication functions by disrupting essential phases of theHIV life cycle, effectivelystopping the virus from establishing itself in individuals who are at risk of infection. Health authorities have stressed that this is strictly a preventive measure for HIV-negative persons not a vaccine, nor a treatment for those already living with the virus.

Kenya has secured 21,000 initial doses to launch the programme in 15 priority counties identified based on their HIV burden. These include Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu, Kisii, Mombasa, Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Busia, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kakamega, Uasin Gishu and Nakuru.

To ensure continuity of care, an additional 12,000 maintenance doses are scheduled to arrive by April, allowing those who begin the regimen to complete their first full cycle without interruption. Following this initial phase, the programme will expand to another 15 counties, eventually reaching all 47 counties nationwide.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed that Lenacapavir will be incorporated into existing healthcare frameworks, with distribution managed through the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa). Oversight of usage, safety protocols, and commodity management will fall under the National Aids and STI Control Programme.

“Let me be absolutely clear, this medication is intended exclusively for HIV-negative individuals. It is neither a vaccine nor a cure, and we urge all those currently on treatment to maintain their lifelong therapy without interruption,” Duale said.

Adding, “The medicine works by blocking critical stages of the HIV life cycle, preventing the virus from establishing infection in the body. Its greatest advantage is that it is administered only twice a year, offering six months of protection per dose.”

Lenacapavir received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2025, followed by endorsement from the World Health Organisation (WHO) through updated guidelines released in July 2025.

In January this year, Kenya’s Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) recommended registration of both the tablet and injectable formulations following rigorous scientific assessment.