In a quiet clinic in Nairobi’s Kawangware neighborhood, the future of HIV prevention in Kenya and Africa at large took a massive leap forward. At 8 a.m. sharp, 27-year-old Samson Mutua became the first Kenyan to receive Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable that offers protection against HIV for six months with a single dose.
Clinicians at the Riruta Health Centre administered two injections into Mutua’s lower abdomen as Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale looked on. The event marks the official rollout of a game-changing tool in Kenya’s public health arsenal.
From Daily Pills to Twice-a-Year Protection
For years, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) required users to maintain a strict daily pill regimen. Mutua, a part-time delivery rider and community health promoter, knows that struggle well. After years of consistent daily PrEP use and counseling, he stepped forward to volunteer for this breakthrough.
To ensure immediate protection, Mutua swallowed two oral PrEP tablets right after his injection. He will take two more today, after which the lenacapavir takes over, shielding him from the virus for the next half-year.
“When I heard about the drug that was coming, I was glad to be a volunteer. I was anxious today; obviously, I’m being pricked on live TV. I was anxious, plus it’s a new drug. But I’m feeling so enthusiastic about it. I’m feeling so good about it. And I feel protected,” Mutua told reporters.
Mutua’s commitment to sexual health began nearly a decade ago following a wake-up call regarding his own lifestyle choices.
“My whole identification process began in 2017, when there was a case where you were supposed to donate blood; it was an emergency, but I couldn’t because I used to engage in risky behavior. If you have unprotected sex with someone who has not been tested, that falls under risky behaviors,” he shared.
Now a father raising two boys, Mutua uses his platform as a community health promoter in Dagoreti South to educate his peers. While the injection provides a powerful shield against HIV, he remains vocal about the need for comprehensive health safety.
“I am also a CHP; I’m a community health promoter for Dagoreti South. I’m championing it amongst the youth because this is added protection. This doesn’t mean that because you’ve been given an injection, you stop using other means of protecting yourself. You have to use other means of protecting yourself because there are still other diseases out there,” he noted.
Strategic Rollout Across High-Burden Counties
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has launched this first phase with 21,000 starter doses. The government is prioritizing 15 counties that face the highest HIV burdens to ensure the medication reaches those who need it most.
The targeted regions include:
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Nairobi & Surroundings: Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado
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Western & Nyanza: Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Kakamega, Busia
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Coast & Rift Valley: Mombasa, Kilifi, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu
Lenacapavir works by blocking the virus from establishing an infection in HIV-negative individuals. Following the national clinical guidelines, patients will return to health facilities every six months for a booster, eliminating the “pill fatigue” that often hinders long-term prevention efforts.
