Kenya’s HIV Fight in Crisis as U.S. Funding Freeze Threatens Lives

 

By Brenda Muriithi 

Kenya’s nationally acclaimed HIV program is facing an unprecedented crisis following the suspension of critical funding from two major U.S. partners—PEPFAR and USAID. The freeze, which began in late 2024, has disrupted access to life-saving antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), leaving millions of Kenyans living with HIV at risk.

Triggered by concerns over financial accountability and management at the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC)—the government body overseeing the HIV response—the funding pause has brought the country’s once-robust HIV services to a near standstill.

More than $34 million worth of HIV medication remains locked in warehouses, inaccessible to patients. Public health facilities across the country are rationing their dwindling stock. Many patients who previously received two- or three-month ARV supplies are now being issued one week’s worth—or even less—forcing frequent, costly clinic visits.

Esther, a 32-year-old mother from Kisumu living with HIV, described the toll the crisis has taken:
"I used to pick my medicine once every two months. Now I go weekly. If I miss even one trip, I have no backup. It’s terrifying."

The impact extends far beyond medication shortages. HIV testing, viral load monitoring, education programs, and outreach to vulnerable populations—including sex workers and people who inject drugs—have slowed down or stopped entirely. Health workers warn the system is at a breaking point.

“This is more than a supply issue. It’s a public health emergency in the making,” said a senior clinical officer in Nairobi who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.

Government Scrambles for Solutions

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has acknowledged the severity of the crisis. Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha told Parliament that the country urgently needs KES 5.2 billion to sustain HIV services through June 2025. The projected need for the full 2025–2026 fiscal year stands at KES 13.5 billion.

The government is appealing to Parliament, county governments, and other development partners for emergency financial support. Negotiations are also ongoing with U.S. officials in a bid to unfreeze the withheld funds.

"We are committed to improving transparency and ensuring proper financial management. But we must act now to protect lives," said CS Nakhumicha.

Civil Society Mobilizes as Public Outcry Grows

Across the country, civil society groups, healthcare workers, and people living with HIV are staging peaceful protests and online campaigns under hashtags like #ReleaseTheDrugs and #HIVLivesMatter. Grassroots organizations are also stepping up by offering support in the form of peer counseling, transport assistance, and food supplements.

In a show of solidarity and urgency, demonstrators have taken to the streets in Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi, and other towns demanding that the government and donors prioritize lives over politics.

"Our lives should not be caught between politics and bureaucracy. We just want to live," said Esther during a small protest outside the Kisumu County Hospital.

A Decade of Progress Under Threat

Kenya has long been hailed as a regional leader in HIV management, with high treatment coverage and a steep decline in AIDS-related deaths over the last decade. Experts warn the current crisis threatens to reverse those gains.

"This is a wake-up call," said Dr. Miriam Omolo, a public health policy analyst. "Kenya must increase domestic health funding, but at the same time, development partners should not walk away from millions of people who rely on this care."

As talks continue and pressure mounts, the fate of Kenya’s HIV program hangs in the balance. For now, the country’s most vulnerable wait—caught in the crossfire of politics, policy, and survival.

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June 10, 2025