By Elizabeth Angira
HIV prevalence in Kisii County currently stands at 3.8%, with 2,410 young people already tested and enrolled in care, according to county health officials.
Speaking during the World AIDS Day commemoration at Kisii University, Ronald Nyakweba, the County Executive Committee Member for Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation, noted that the county has made significant progress in controlling the epidemic.
Nyakweba reported that 98% of patients on treatment are virally suppressed, meaning they cannot transmit HIV to others.
Additionally, 95% of those diagnosed are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) a figure he described as encouraging.
He reflected on the county’s journey in the HIV response, noting the substantial reduction in prevalence from 8.9% years ago to the current 3.8%, crediting the progress to strong collaboration between government and partners. National prevalence stands at 3.3%.
“ “ This is a recommendable work as a county we have achieved, but we still have to put more effort to zero rate it,” Nyakweba said.
He emphasized the need for continuous testing, awareness creation, and early diagnosis, stressing that HIV is a manageable condition not a death sentence when identified early and treated consistently.
Nyakweba acknowledged the county government’s commitment, highlighting support from Governor Simba Arati and the establishment of a dedicated HIV and AIDS directorate.
However, the county faces challenges following the gradual withdrawal of support from PEPFAR, the U.S. Government’s emergency fund for AIDS relief.
Over the last five years, PEPFAR has scaled down support, recently reducing funded staff from about 610 to 220.
Nyakweba said the county has responded swiftly by advertising over 300 new health worker positions, with shortlisting already underway. This follows the recent hiring of 110 workers, with plans to bring total new hires to over 420 to fill the gaps left by PEPFAR’s exit.
He added that the county is focusing on adolescents and youth groups with higher prevalence through specialized programs such as KYP/AYP and expanded HIV testing and counselling centers across Kisii.
Speaking at the same event, Henry Sanya , the Kenya Red Cross County Coordinator for Kisii and Nyamira, said the organization had deployed first aiders and peer educators to guide young people on HIV prevention, emerging infection trends, and safe practices.
Sanya noted that while World AIDS Day is a global commemoration, it also serves as a crucial platform for raising awareness, especially among adolescents and youth.
He expressed concerns over the broader impact of USAID funding cuts, which have forced many organizations to reduce staff, scale down outreach programs, and limit nutritional support for people living with HIV.
“This has significantly reduced the number of people reached through community programs,” he said.
Sanya urged stakeholders to begin exploring alternative approaches to ensure essential HIV services continue uninterrupted.
Despite the setbacks, he expressed hope that funding conditions may improve in the future, stressing the importance of sustained community engagement to prevent new infections and support those living with HIV.
The 2025 theme is “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response”, calling for sustained political leadership, international cooperation, and human-rights-centered approaches to end AIDS by 2030.
According to WHO estimates that by the end of the year 2024, about 40.8 million people were living with HIV globally, with 65 percent of them residing in the African region.
During the same year, approximately 630,000 died from HIV-related causes, and about 1.3 million acquired HIV.
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Elizabeth Angira is a trailblazing climate journalist whose work bridges science, policy, and human impact. As Senior Climate Reporter at The Mount Kenya Times, she leads in-depth coverage on climate resilience, energy innovation, and sustainability across East Africa and beyond. Her storytelling has earned international acclaim, including a third-place win for “The Best Energy Story in Foreign Media” by the Global Energy Association in Moscow.
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