AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) calls on the Kenyan government to close the nation’s condom shortage gap or face preventable outbreaks of HIV, and other STIs, along with unplanned pregnancies, particularly among young people and vulnerable populations. Kenyans need at least 400 million condoms annually, yet the government is on pace to distribute only 150 million.
“We propose that the government adopt and support a whole-market approach to its condoms policies and suggest that, of the total needed, 200 million condoms [50%] go toward free and non-taxed distribution for lower-income people and 150 million [40%] be socially marketed at low cost and tax. The remaining 50 million condoms [10%] can be allocated for the premium market but with no government incentives attached,” said Dr. Samuel Kinyanjui, AHF Kenya Country Program Director. “Additionally, condoms should not be taxed as medical devices as it prevents NGOs like AHF and other civil society organizations and advocates from importing them. We give away condoms free of charge—we should not have to pay the government money to help Kenyans stay healthy.”
