Kenya stares at condom shortage amid USAID funding freeze

Kenya is staring at a condom shortage crisis following the funding freeze on United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programs.

The country was heavily relying on USAID for the free condom distribution program, with counties with high HIV prevalence rates reporting a final stock that could last six months only if managed well.

Three weeks after the freeze order by President Donald Trump, the effects are glaring with this year’s International Condom Day missing the usual flair of condoms for distribution to those in attendance.

Stakeholders are now pushing for a total market approach where middle and upper-income Kenyans will buy condoms at a subsidized rate to ease the pressure of the free condom distribution program.

“It has been a challenge for us since the government introduced heavy taxation on condoms, so we still appeal to our partners who have been supplying us so that the intermittent supply can be sorted,” Migori County Health CEC Caleb Opondi said.

“We are advocating for a total market approach so that as you do your budgeting, look at a condom as a self-kit so that when you budget, you also put condoms as you would budget for other things,” National Syndemic Disease Control Council (NSDCC) Director Dr. Stephen Ndolo added.

Kenya has an annual condom demand of 400 million pieces, with the government distributing an average of 200 million.

The free condom distribution program was launched in 2001 to stifle the growing infections of HIV. The youth are now calling for urgent interventions to the shortage.

“There is a shortage and peace for studying is even harder because this issue affects health. At least if we were safe, we could study well, so, for the government, a little help with condoms would be appreciated,” said Rongo University student Mathew Kipkemboi.

With reduced funding in the space, healthcare stakeholders are calling for the zero-rating of crucial commodities and more investment in preventive services in order to save the country’s health systems.