NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi County has recorded the highest number of new HIV infections in the country, logging more than 3,000 fresh cases over the past year, according to new national data released on Sunday ahead of World AIDS Day.
The figures place the capital at the centre of Kenya’s growing HIV challenge, with health authorities warning of a worrying surge among adolescents and young adults.
Nationally, Kenya registered 19,991 new infections, marking a 19pc increase compared to the previous year. Youth aged 15–34 years accounted for 54pc of all new cases, underscoring a demographic shift that health officials say reflects behavioural and structural vulnerabilities among young people.
Dr. Bernard Muia, a public health specialist familiar with HIV surveillance trends, said the rise signals gaps in access to early testing and prevention services. “We are seeing inconsistent condom use, low risk perception, and limited youth-friendly services, especially in informal settlements. These factors collectively heighten vulnerability,” he said.
The data was released on the same day hundreds of runners gathered at Nyayo National Stadium for the national HIV awareness half-marathon organised by the Ministry of Health and the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC). The event, themed One Race, One Goal: Ending AIDS among Adolescents and Young People, featured 21 km, 10 km, 5 km, and 2 km races that kicked off shortly after 6 a.m.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, who flagged off the marathon, urged Kenyans to use the momentum of World AIDS Day to embrace testing and prevention tools.
“Each of us has a responsibility to know our status and support young people to access prevention services like PrEP. We cannot end AIDS by 2030 unless we act decisively,” he said.
Free HIV testing and counselling services were offered at the stadium throughout the morning, alongside information desks on pre-exposure prophylaxis, post-exposure prophylaxis, and sexual-health resources tailored for teens and young adults.
To facilitate the race, Mombasa Road was closed between Nyayo Stadium and Museum Hill until 10:30 a.m., with traffic diversions managed by the National Police Service and event marshals.
Parallel awareness walks, community dialogues, and youth-led outreach drives took place across all 47 counties as part of the national buildup to World AIDS Day, which will be observed on Monday, December 1.
Kenya currently has 1.3 million people on HIV treatment, according to NSDCC data.
While treatment coverage remains a global success story, the uptick in new infections — particularly in Nairobi and among young people — has triggered fresh concern over the country’s progress toward the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat, in line with the UNAIDS Fast-Track strategy and Kenya’s HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework.
Health officials warn that sustained public education, expanded testing, and scaled-up prevention programs — including PrEP accessibility and comprehensive sexuality education — will be essential to reversing the upward trend.
They emphasise that without renewed attention to urban informal settlements and youth-focused interventions, the gains made in the past decade could stall.
As Kenya prepares to join the global community in marking World AIDS Day, the new statistics offer a stark reminder that the HIV fight is entering a critical phase — one that demands coordinated action from government, civil society, and communities alike.
