Following the funding freeze on United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programs by President Donald Trump, Kenya is staring at a shortage of condoms.
The country was heavily relying on USAID for the free condom distribution program which assist several countries in creating a condom programming strategy that addresses key supply and demand issues related to increasing condom use.
USAID centrally finances male and female condoms and lubricants for non-focus U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) countries, which include Kenya.
These commodities are provided at no cost to these countries, enabling dozens of countries to make condoms available to poor or vulnerable individuals for free or at highly subsidized prices
Three weeks after the USAID freeze order, the effects are glaring with this year’s International Condom Day, celebrated on February 13 of every year, missing the usual flair of condoms for distribution to those in attendance throughout several Kenyan counties.
In addition, counties with high HIV prevalence rates report a final stock that could last six months only if managed well.
A 2023 report by the National Aids Control Council revealed that Kenyans used an average of 17,000 condoms daily.
Usage of condoms in Kenya
Former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha while tabling a report to the Departmental Committee on Health on the State Department for Medical Services Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024-25, Nakhumicha revealed that the National Aids Control Council had distributed 3,157,900 condoms in non-health settings within a period of six months.
However, the number of condoms distributed did not include those sold by private entities.
While responding to the risk of condom shortage, 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.
USAID condom programs have notably in the years adopted a total market approach to condom programming.
A total market approach engages the public sector that gives free condoms, social marketing that gives subsidized condoms and the private sector that sells regular priced condoms. This approach also plans for increased sustainability by reducing reliance on donor subsidies and increasing country ownership.
“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 said.
On his part, Migori County Health CEC Caleb Opondi said, “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.”