Nairobi Records the Highest Number of HIV Infections, New Report Shows
The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) has released the Kenya AIDS Progress Report 2025, revealing key trends that show where the country has made progress and where the gaps are widening.
Nearly 20,000 New Infections Recorded in 2024
According to the report, Kenya recorded 19,991 new HIV infections in 2024, a sharp drop from the 41,416 cases reported in 2019. Even with this progress, the burden remains significant. Women, adolescents, and young adults continue to shoulder the greatest risk.
More Than 1.3 Million People Living With HIV
NSDCC estimates that 1,326,336 people are currently living with HIV in Kenya, with women accounting for a higher share of infections and prevalence. National HIV prevalence stands at 3.0%, but the gender split is stark: 4.0% among women compared to 2.0% among men.
Children and adolescents also remain heavily affected, with more than 62,000 children aged 0–14 living with the virus.
AIDS-Related Deaths Rise Slightly
ALSO READ: World AIDS Day 2025
The report highlights worrying setbacks in mortality. In 2024, the country recorded 21,007 AIDS-related deaths, a slight increase from the previous year. Men accounted for 8,538 of these deaths, and women 9,785, while children and adolescents (0–19 years) contributed to more than 16% of the total deaths.
Late diagnosis, poor treatment retention, and interruptions in care continue to drive these losses.
Young People Remain at the Centre of the Epidemic
Young people are at the centre of the epidemic. Adolescents aged 10–19 registered 2,799 new infections, while young adults aged 15–24 accounted for a significant 6,362 cases.
According to NSDCC, adolescent girls and young women remain three to four times more likely to acquire HIV than their male peers, a troubling pattern tied to gender inequality, limited access to prevention tools, and social vulnerability.
Mother-to-Child Transmission Still Too High
Mother-to-child transmission also remains a challenge. Although Kenya’s Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) coverage stands at 90.1%, the current transmission rate is 9.3%, almost double the national target of below 5%. This means thousands of children are still acquiring a preventable infection.
Seven Counties Carry Half the National Burden
Geographically, the epidemic remains uneven. Seven counties ; Nairobi, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya, Kiambu, and Mombasa, account for nearly half of all people living with HIV in the country. Nairobi leads with more than 151,000 cases.
Meanwhile, counties such as Kirinyaga and Kwale have shifted into a “mixed epidemic” status, showing rising transmission among the general population.
Comorbidities Worsen the HIV Landscape
Beyond HIV itself, the report warns of a growing syndemic. More than 62% of people living with HIV also suffer from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension. Tuberculosis remains a persistent threat, with one in four PLHIV affected in 2023.
Kenya Falls Short of 95–95–95 Targets
Still, Kenya has made major gains in expanding treatment access. However, the country is yet to meet the global 95–95–95 targets. Among children, only 87% are diagnosed, 75% are on treatment, and just 66% are virally suppressed, all well below the benchmarks.
NSDCC stresses that closing these gaps is essential to reducing infections and saving lives.
A Call to Strengthen the Response
From the report, young people and women remain the hardest hit, AIDS-related deaths are rising again, and prevention gaps threaten to undo earlier gains.
Strengthening community-led interventions, improving youth-friendly services, boosting treatment retention, and addressing gender inequalities will be critical if the country is to fast-track progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat.
