Lenacapavir, a new HIV prevention injection, will offer six months of protection per dose at a cost of Sh6,000, according to Andrew Mulwa, Head of the National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NASCOP).
Mulwa, speaking to NTV Kenya, noted that jab is a breakthrough in HIV prevention and it does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections(STIs)
Kenyans will get access to the new HIV prevention injection beginning January 2026.
The shot is expected to help those struggling with daily pills by providing long-lasting protection against HIV by offering a cheaper and more powerful alternative to other daily oral PrEP pills.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on July 14 recommended Lenacapavir, stating that it is a helpful option for HIV prevention.
The organization noted that the shot is convenient since an individual can get only two injections a year.
WHO added that the shot should be added to each country's range of HIV prevention methods alongside condoms and pills.
Kenya, which ranks seventh globally in HIV burden with an estimated 1.4 million people living with the virus, was chosen among nine African countries to begin offering Lenacapavir through programs funded by global health partners.
The other African countries expected to receive the drug are Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Uganda, and Eswatini.
The programs, such as Global Fund, Tiko Africa, and UNAIDS, are for easy, widespread access and affordable, focusing on adolescent girls, young women who are at high risk of acquiring HIV.
The Global Fund stated that at least 2 million drugs will be supplied globally, mostly to countries with high HIV incidence, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
"The agreement follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Lenacapavir for HIV prevention in June and represents one of the most significant advances in HIV prevention in decades," the Global Fund said.
"As the first twice-yearly, long-acting injectable for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), lenacapavir expands the HIV prevention choice basket — offering a powerful new option for people who experience stigma, adherence challenges with existing PrEP tools, or other barriers in their daily lives," it added.
The injection is expected to benefit high-risk individuals as a more convenient alternative to daily PrEP.
