The government will flood the country with six million male condoms distributed for free.
Organisations serving sex workers and gay people will get more condoms compared to other centres that will benefit.
The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority is distributing the 6,516,000 pieces to 221 centres across the country.
They are packed in tightly sealed boxes, each containing 7,200 pieces. Most centres will get between 20,000 and 30,000 condoms.
The Sex Workers Operation Project in Nairobi’s Embakasi area will get the highest serving of 86,400 pieces.
Hoymas VCT and Ishtar Wellness Centre, which serve mostly gay people in Nairobi, will each get 72,000 pieces, the second-highest delivery.
Third are six sex workers outreach projects in Nairobi that will each receive 64,000 pieces.
Kemsa said the condoms and the distribution list were provided by a programme within the Ministry of Health.
“To ensure steady supply and distribution of condoms for prevention of HIV/Aids and other related diseases, Kemsa in partnership with National Aids & STI Control Programme is distributing 6,516,000 condoms to various public health facilities across the country,” Kemsa said.
The free condoms come after a biting shortage reported last year.
However, they are a drop in the ocean because Kenyans need 400 millions every year, according to estimates by the non-profit Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Kenya.
This means Kenyans use an average of 17,000 condoms daily.
Although condoms are also sold at a low price in supermarkets and shops, most Kenyans prefer the free ones, which make up 80 per cent of the market.
In February, the Ministry of Health revealed it had distributed 3,157,900 free condoms in the previous six months.
This was in a report to the Departmental Committee on Health on the State Department for Medical Services Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2024-25.
AHF Kenya country programme director Dr Samuel Kinyanjui said Kenyans rely on free condoms because the sold one have also become expensive due to new taxes.
Condoms now attract a 16 per cent value added tax after they were reclassified as medical devices instead of medical supplies.
“The taxation hit anything else that is not considered medicine. Needles are called non-pharmaceuticals, bandages are also being taxed, gloves are taxed, and condoms are taxed. All these things contribute to increasing the burden on the providers (of condoms),” he said.
AHF Kenya said it had alone distributed more than 12 million free condoms in 2021. In 2022, it distributed 2.83 million, and by the second quarters of 2023, had distributed 1.83 million.
Last year, the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council, the coordinating agency for Kenya’s HIV and aids response, said the government might never be able to satisfy demand with free condoms.
It advocated for the increased use of low-priced condoms in Kenya.
Dr Ruth Laibon-Masha, CEO of the NSDCC, emphasised the importance of a “total market approach” that combines individual purchases with the available free condoms to improve access and encourage correct condom use.
This approach has been successful in Nigeria, where socially marketed condoms make up 60 per cent of the market, compared to 14 per cent in Kenya.
A survey revealed that 70 per cent of condom users in both countries were willing to purchase condoms if they were unavailable.
Correct and consistent condom use provides up to 95 per cent protection against HIV, other STIs, and unintended pregnancy, NSDCC said.
Dr Masha emphasised the need for correct knowledge, skills, and motivation to use them effectively, alongside increased private sector involvement.
In January 2023, former Health CS Susan Nakhumicha said reports of stockouts in various regions were a result of hitches in the distribution process from Kemsa stores.
“We continue to reiterate the need to revise upwards the budgetary ceiling for the State Department if we are to deal with funding challenges we continue to experience,” she added.