01/12/2025
Kenya Records 19% Surge in New HIV Infections, Youth Most Affected.
Kenya has reported a significant 19 percent rise in new HIV infections, with cases increasing from 16,752 in 2023 to 19,991 in 2024, according to the latest World AIDS Day 2025 report released by the National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC).
Nairobi County registered the highest number of new infections at 3,045, followed by Migori (1,572), Kisumu (1,341), Homa Bay (1,180), and Busia (886). Other counties that also recorded high case numbers include Siaya, Kakamega, Nakuru, Mombasa, and Bungoma.
The report highlights that young people aged 15 to 34 remain the most vulnerable, accounting for 74 percent of all new infections. Among them, young women continue to face a higher risk of infection compared to their male counterparts.
Kenya’s national HIV prevalence currently stands at 3 percent, representing approximately 1.3 million people living with HIV, including thousands of children. The country also recorded an increase in HIV-related deaths, rising from 18,473 last year to 21,007 in 2024.
On the global scale, Kenya now ranks eighth among countries with the highest HIV burden. It joins nations such as South Africa, India, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, which collectively shoulder a significant portion of the world’s HIV cases.
