Youth Summit Pre-Maisha Conference 2023
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About the Author: George Onyango
Youth Summit Pre-Maisha Conference 2023
About NSDCC
The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) is a State Corporation established under Section 3 of the State Corporations Act, Cap 446, through the National AIDS Control Council Order, 1999 as amended by legal notice number 143 of 2022. The Council is mandated to manage the following syndemic diseases; HIV, sexually transmitted infections, malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis and lung disease.
News and Updates
Summary
The First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, Her Excellency Mrs. Rachel Ruto, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC), national and county governments, development and multisectoral partners, the Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA), elected leaders, communities, adolescents and young people, has unveiled a Call to Action and signed time-bound commitments to end the Triple Threat of new HIV infections, mistimed pregnancies and gender-based violence through the Voice of the Children Initiative.
The commitments were unveiled during the National Roundtable Forum on Ending the Triple Threat, which brought together stakeholders to reflect on the experiences of children and young people and identify practical actions to address the interconnected challenges affecting them.
The forum heard difficult stories of stigma, violence, poverty and lost opportunities. It also heard stories of courage and resilience as young people shared their experiences and proposed solutions to the challenges they face.
Speaking during the forum, the First Lady noted that the Government remains committed to protecting the health and well-being of children and young people. She said President William Ruto has reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to ending HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
“Through the Social Health Authority, the Government is also expanding access to primary healthcare and maternal services, including coverage for 50,000 vulnerable adolescent mothers,” she said.
Through the Voice of Children Initiative, the First Lady said the Triple Threat conversation had been taken directly to communities in partnership with NSDCC, the Ministry of Health, county governments and other stakeholders.
“We want to listen to their experiences, understand the realities they face and, most importantly, give them the space to tell us what needs to change,” she noted.
NSDCC Chief Executive Officer Douglas Bosire highlighted the continued vulnerability of young people to HIV, noting that approximately 41% of adult new HIV infections occur among young people aged 15–24 years. He further noted that adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years recorded three times more new HIV infections than young men of the same age.
“While all three Triple Threat indicators are trending downward from their peaks, which is positive, the pace is decelerating for pregnancies, HIV showed a worrying mid-period spike, and SGBV remains volatile. This suggests that while interventions are working, they are not yet self-sustaining, and complacency could reverse the gains quickly,” said the CEO.
Kenya currently has an estimated 1,481,853 people living with HIV, with 13,936 new HIV infections recorded in 2025. Young people aged 15–24 years accounted for approximately 41% of adult new HIV infections, with adolescent girls and young women experiencing a disproportionately higher burden.
The wider picture remains concerning. In 2025, more than 236,000 pregnancies were reported among adolescents aged 10–19 years, while children and adolescents aged 10–17 years accounted for 38% of sexual and gender-based violence cases reported in health facilities.
“These are not simply statistics. Behind every number is a child, a dream and a future that deserves our protection,” the forum heard.
The National Roundtable underscored the interconnected nature of the Triple Threat, with HIV, adolescent pregnancy and sexual and gender-based violence often driven by common underlying vulnerabilities, including poverty, gender inequality, economic insecurity and limited access to essential health and protection services.
The forum also called for stronger protection systems for children experiencing violence and greater efforts to keep vulnerable children in school, regardless of poverty, pregnancy, HIV status, disability or other circumstances.
The Call to Action therefore challenges national and county governments, development partners, the private sector, communities, faith institutions, parents, teachers, health workers and other stakeholders to translate the commitments made into concrete plans, budgets, services and measurable results.
For young people, the message was equally clear: their voices must continue to inform decisions that affect their lives.
The success of the commitments will ultimately be measured not by the number of meetings held or campaigns conducted, but by tangible change; fewer new HIV infections, fewer adolescent pregnancies, fewer children experiencing violence, increased access to essential services and more children and young people protected and thriving.
Summary
HOMA BAY, August 2026 — First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, Her Excellency Mrs. Rachel Ruto, has called for stronger community action to protect adolescents and young people from new HIV infections, adolescent pregnancies and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), collectively known as the Triple Threat.
The First Lady made the call at Mawego National Polytechnic in Homa Bay County, where she joined the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) through the Ministry of Health, the Homa Bay County Government, government agencies, development partners and thousands of community members for a high-level community dialogue on the Triple Threat.
The engagement brought together stakeholders around a common message: protecting Kenya’s young people requires coordinated action that tackles the interconnected factors driving vulnerability to HIV, adolescent pregnancy and SGBV.
The urgency is underscored by Homa Bay’s latest data. The county has an HIV prevalence of 11.74 per cent, with adolescents aged 10–19 accounting for 205 of the 997 new HIV infections, representing 20.6 per cent of all new infections. The figures are based on the 2026 estimates presented during the Triple Threat meeting.
Adolescent pregnancy remains another critical concern. In 2025, the county recorded 7,582 adolescent pregnancies among girls aged 10–19, including 366 among girls aged 10–14 and 7,216 among those aged 15–19.
The county also reported 379 SGBV cases among adolescents aged 10–17 in 2025. Of these, 147 eligible survivors were initiated on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), while 117 were eligible for emergency contraception.
Against this backdrop, NSDCC Chief Executive Officer Douglas Bosire said Kenya must intensify prevention efforts to ensure that progress made in the HIV response is not undermined by continued new infections among young people.
“We have made significant progress in the HIV response, but the continued vulnerability of adolescents and young people demands renewed and coordinated action. We cannot address HIV, adolescent pregnancies and SGBV in isolation because these challenges are interconnected,” said the CEO.
He called for stronger collaboration among national and county governments, communities, parents, schools, health providers, development partners and young people to address the drivers of the Triple Threat.
“Our young people need accurate information, access to youth-friendly health services, protection from violence and the opportunity to make informed decisions about their health and future. Ending the Triple Threat is a shared responsibility,” he said.
The First Lady was accompanied by Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga and H.E. Gladys Wanga, EGH Governor, Homa Bay County. Her participation in the dialogue was part of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD)’s advocacy efforts to advance the health and well-being of women, children and young people.
The dialogue reinforced the need for communities to move from awareness to action by strengthening prevention, early intervention, access to comprehensive health information and services, protection from SGBV and support for adolescents and young people.
NSDCC is calling on all stakeholders to renew their commitment to ending the Triple Threat and creating an environment where every young person can access the information, services and protection they need to make healthy choices and realise their full potential.
Summary
Kenya’s Health Sector reforms have created new opportunities to strengthen the prevention, early detection and management of HIV and other syndemic diseases by bringing services closer to communities and strengthening county health systems.
Speaking at the Kenya Health Summit 2026, President William Ruto highlighted the shift towards prevention, early detection, treatment and efficient referral, supported by Community Health Promoters reaching households across the country.
The reforms have provided an important platform for integrating HIV and syndemic disease services into primary healthcare, improving access to prevention information, testing, treatment and referral while reducing financial and geographical barriers.
Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale emphasised the critical role of counties in delivering UHC, noting that health reforms depend on collaboration between the National and County Governments. Investments in medicines, diagnostic equipment and health workers are strengthening services across counties. NSDCC leveraged the Summits insights and lessons for a coordinated, integrated and people-centred response to HIV and other syndemic diseases.
Summary
The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) in partnership with the Office of the Kisii County Woman Representative, Hon. Donya Dorice Aburi, the County Government of Kisii, community leaders and other elected leaders, has stepped up public education and sensitization on the Triple Threat of new HIV infections, unintended pregnancies and sexual and gender-based violence in Kisii County.
Through the Council's coordination and partnership with other state agencies, 1,000 dignity packs for women, 1,400 bars of soap and 920 plastic troughs were distributed today at St. Anne’s Nyang’oke in Bonchari. The outreach also provided an opportunity to engage the community directly on HIV prevention and the Triple Threat, reaching an estimated 5,000 people with key health and prevention messages.
As the national body mandated to coordinate Kenya’s multisectoral response to HIV and other syndemic diseases, NSDCC continues to work with national and county governments, communities and other partners to strengthen prevention, promote access to health information and services, and encourage communities to make informed choices about their health and well-being.
Summary
The National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) in collaboration with the Office of the Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service, the County Government of Busia and other partners, under the overall coordination of the Ministry of Health supported a free medical camp at Lugulu A.C. Secondary School in Butula Sub-County, Busia County today.
Community members accessed a wide range of free health services, including HIV and TB screening, blood pressure checks, cancer screening, STI screening and treatment, mental wellness services, dental screening, health education, medical consultations and wellness check-ups, treatment for common illnesses, as well as Social Health Authority (SHA) services.
As part of the outreach, NSDCC conducted public education through peer-to-peer engagement to increase awareness and understanding of HIV and other syndemic diseases including their prevention and available services. The Council also shared prevention and health information on the Triple Threat of new HIV infections, adolescent pregnancies, and sexual and gender-based violence affecting adolescents and young people, empowering communities to make informed choices and take action to protect their health and well-being.
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