The abrupt withdrawal of US funding for HIV prevention and treatment services has left thousands of Kenya’s most vulnerable populations facing an uncertain future. With critical outreach programs suddenly suspended, experts fear a surge in new infections and a disruption of progress made in combating the disease.
The affected groups include sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), and other marginalized communities. These populations have long relied on support from programs funded through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other international initiatives. But with these funding streams cut, essential services have been forced to halt operations.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of HIV among these key populations in Kenya remains alarmingly high compared to the general public. Recent data from the Kenya HIV Modes of Transmission Study Report 2024 reveals an HIV prevalence rate of 29.3% among female sex workers, 18.2% among MSM, and 3% among PWID. These figures starkly contrast with the national average of 4.3%.
“Without this funding, our ability to provide testing, treatment, and prevention services is severely compromised,” said Dr. Amina Njeri, a Nairobi-based public health expert. “These communities face increased stigma and discrimination, and now they must also contend with reduced access to life-saving care.”
The WHO warns that the funding cuts will likely reverse the strides made in preventing new infections and reducing AIDS-related deaths. Programs that offer HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), harm reduction services, and community-led outreach efforts have already begun to shut down.
For those directly affected, the impact is immediate and devastating. “I don’t know where to go for my medication now,” said Sarah, a sex worker from Mombasa. “These clinics were our safe spaces, and without them, many of us will suffer in silence.”
Health advocates are urging both the Kenyan government and international partners to step in and bridge the funding gap. “We cannot afford to lose the progress we’ve made,” said Dr. Njeri. “The lives of thousands depend on it.”
As the crisis unfolds, the future of HIV prevention and care in Kenya hangs in the balance, with the most vulnerable left high and dry.
