Kenya has recorded a sharp decline in the uptake of Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), with new initiations falling by nearly 80 per cent over the past three years, raising concerns about the country's HIV prevention efforts.
Data from the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) shows that Oral PrEP initiations dropped from a record 170,551 in 2022 to just 35,704 in 2025. The slowdown has stalled national PrEP coverage at 39 per cent, leaving many people at high risk of HIV infection without access to the preventive medication.
Health experts attribute the decline primarily to major funding cuts. The termination of several USAID and PEPFAR-supported programmes following changes in U.S. foreign assistance policy disrupted HIV prevention services, including community outreach, peer education, and staffing at health facilities.
Although PrEP medication remains available in some health facilities, the withdrawal of donor funding has reduced the number of healthcare workers and outreach personnel responsible for HIV testing and enrolling new users into the programme.
The situation has been compounded by reduced support from the Global Fund, which cut Kenya's three-year HIV programme allocation by 18.2 per cent, placing additional pressure on prevention initiatives.
Other factors slowing PrEP uptake include pill fatigue among long-term users, the requirement for repeat HIV testing before refills, and low risk perception among individuals who would benefit most from the medication.
The decline is particularly concerning because adolescents and young adults aged between 15 and 24 account for 41 per cent of new HIV infections in Kenya, making them one of the key target groups for PrEP.
In response, the Ministry of Health is accelerating plans to integrate HIV services into the country's Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework. The government aims to transition the procurement of all HIV commodities to county-managed systems by 2030 as part of efforts to strengthen domestic financing and reduce dependence on external donors.