Kenyans Will Not Pay For HIV Prevention Drug, Govt Confirms It Will Be Free

The government has moved swiftly to quash misinformation spreading on social media, confirming that Lenacapavir, the highly anticipated long-acting injectable HIV prevention drug, will be provided completely free of charge to Kenyans at public health facilities in the first rollout counties.

The Ministry of Health, through its official account on X, formerly Twitter, directly rebutted a widely circulated claim suggesting that Kenyans would be required to pay KSh7,800 for the drug. The post, shared by Tuko.co.ke, was stamped FALSE by the Ministry, which stated: “Lenacapavir will be offered free of charge in health facilities in the select first priority counties for prevention purposes.”

Kenya received its first consignment of 21,000 starter doses of Lenacapavir on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, making it the first country in East Africa and among nine nations globally selected for the drug’s early rollout. The initial supply was secured through a negotiated arrangement between the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and Gilead Sciences, the American pharmaceutical company that manufactures the drug.

“The current batch has been funded through the Global Fund. Lenacapavir will be offered free of charge in health facilities in the select first priority counties.”

-Dr Patrick Amoth, Director General for Health

Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth confirmed the arrangement in a statement, saying the cost of the current batch has been fully covered by partners. “The supply of Lenacapavir has been made possible through partner support. The current batch has been funded through the Global Fund, following a negotiated arrangement with the manufacturer to support access at scale,” Dr Amoth said.

The confusion appears to stem from a Business Daily Africa report dated February 18, 2026, which cited the KSh7,800 figure as the cost of the branded supply under the Global Fund arrangement with Gilead Sciences. That cost is borne entirely by the Global Fund and partner organisations, not by patients.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale also confirmed that the rollout, beginning in early March, will cover 15 high-burden counties: Mombasa, Kilifi, Machakos, Nairobi, Kajiado, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Kakamega, Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay, Kisii and Kiambu. A further 12,000 continuation doses are expected by April to ensure those who start the injections experience no interruption, and the United States government has committed an additional 25,000 doses.

Lenacapavir is a breakthrough in HIV prevention that has generated global excitement for its once-every-six-months dosing schedule, making it far more convenient than daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) tablets. It works by blocking critical stages of the HIV lifecycle, preventing the virus from establishing infection in the body. It is intended strictly for HIV-negative individuals at substantial risk of HIV infection and is neither a vaccine nor a cure. People already living with HIV and on antiretroviral treatment must continue their therapy.

Clinical trial results were extraordinary. The PURPOSE 1 trial, conducted in South Africa and Uganda involving approximately 8,000 women, recorded 100 per cent effectiveness against HIV, while the PURPOSE 2 trial showed 96 per cent efficacy. Science magazine named Lenacapavir its “Breakthrough of the Year” for 2024. The drug received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration in June 2025, followed by a World Health Organisation endorsement in July 2025. Kenya’s Pharmacy and Poisons Board cleared it for national use in January 2026.

Kenya’s HIV burden underscores the urgency of the rollout. The country’s HIV prevalence stands at 3.7 per cent, with approximately 1.34 million people currently on antiretroviral treatment. The Ministry of Health notes that 41 per cent of new infections occur among people below the age of 24. The two-yearly injection format is also expected to improve adherence among populations who struggle with taking daily pills.

The rollout is planned in three phases ultimately covering all 47 counties. A cheaper generic version of Lenacapavir, manufactured by India’s Hetero Labs under a Gates Foundation-supported arrangement, is expected to become available from 2027 at an estimated cost of approximately KSh5,170 per person per year, again to be covered by supporting partners rather than patients.

Health officials urged Kenyans to seek information only from official government channels and verified health sources, warning that misinformation about the drug’s cost could deter high-risk individuals from coming forward for the injections, undermining the public health goals of the programme.