HIV in Kenya by County – Prevalence, New Infections, Deaths

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the white blood cells in the human body, leading to a weakened immune system. 

The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease that occurs in the later stages of an HIV infection and is characterized by vulnerability to opportunistic diseases like tuberculosis, cancer, and other infections.^[1]

In Kenya, significant progress has been made toward ending the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, with deaths reducing significantly in the last two decades.

In this article, we provide data and statistics on HIV in Kenya, including the prevalence of HIV and AIDS, number of deaths, new HIV infections, antiretroviral coverage, mother-to-child transmission, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

Quick Facts

1. The prevalence of HIV and AIDS in Kenya was 3.3% in 2023
2. Approximately 1.38 million people were living with HIV and AIDS in Kenya.
3. The total number of HIV and AIDS deaths in Kenya was 20,480.
4. The total number of new HIV infections in Kenya was 16,752.

The prevalence of HIV and AIDS in Kenya

The prevalence of HIV in Kenya was 3.3% in 2023. HIV/AIDS was higher among Kenyan females than males.^[2]

• Prevalence of HIV in Kenyan males – 2.16%
• Prevalence of HIV in Kenyan females – 4.46%

The top five counties with the highest prevalence of HIV

1. Kisumu – 11.7%
2. Homa Bay – 10.6%
3. Migori – 10.5%
4. Siaya – 9.5%
5. Busia – 5.0%

Counties with the lowest levels of HIV in Kenya include:

1. Wajir – 0.1%
2. Garissa – 0.2%
3. Mandera – 0.3%
4. Marsabit – 0.5%
5. West Pokot – 0.7%

The chart below disaggregates the prevalence rates of HIV in the counties by gender.

The counties with the highest prevalence of HIV among men were Kisumu, with a prevalence of 8.6%; Homa Bay, with 7.4%; Migori, with 7.1%; Siaya, with 7%; and Busia, with 4.3%. 

Among women, the counties with the highest prevalence of HIV were Kisumu at 14.9%, Homa Bay at 13.8%, Migori at 13.8%, Siaya at 12.7%, and Busia at 5.8%.

The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya by county

The total number of people living with HIV in Kenya was 1,378,457. There were more women than men living with HIV/AIDS in 2023.

• The number of men living with HIV and AIDS was 487,710, comprising 35.4% of all HIV cases.
• The total number of females living with HIV was 890,747 and comprised 64.6% of all HIV cases in the country.

The county with the highest number of people living with HIV was Kisumu, with 135,550 people living with HIV/AIDS in 2023. Others include:

1. Homa Bay – 109,786
2. Migori – 106,003
3. Siaya – 93,368
4. Nairobi – 82,820
5. Nakuru – 65,149
6. Mombasa – 54,361
7. Kiambu – 53,718

Counties with the lowest number of people living with HIV in Kenya were Wajir, with 861 people living with AIDS; Lamu, with 1,432; Isiolo, with 1,541; Mandera, with 1,736; Marsabit, with 1,780; Garissa, with 1,895; and Tana River, 1,972.

New HIV infections in Kenya by county

The number of new HIV infections recorded in Kenya was 16,752 in 2023. A larger number of these new infections occurred in women than in men. For instance, among women, there were 10,784 new infections. In men, there were 5,968 new infections. 

The highest number of new HIV infections was recorded in Nairobi County, which had 1,363 new cases. Next was Kisumu with 1,210 new cases, Nakuru with 1,185 new cases, and Migori with 1,005 new cases.

Counties with the highest number of new HIV cases in males:

1. Kisumu – 484
2. Nairobi – 467
3. Nakuru – 416
4. Migori – 404
5. Homa Bay – 400

Counties with the highest number of new HIV cases in females:

1. Nairobi – 896
2. Nakuru – 769  
3. Kisumu – 725
4. Migori – 601
5. Homa Bay – 584

Total number of HIV deaths in Kenya by County

The total number of HIV-related deaths in Kenya was 20,480 in 2023. Kisumu County recorded the highest number of HIV-related deaths, with 1,761 people dying from the disease. Other counties with the highest number of HIV deaths included:

1. Homa Bay – 1,404
2. Migori – 1,364
3. Nakuru – 1,363
4. Siaya – 1,202

Counties with the lowest number of HIV and AIDS deaths were Isiolo, with only 22 deaths in 2023, Lamu with 22 deaths, Marsabit with 25 deaths; Tana River, with 29 deaths; Wajir, with 41 deaths; West Pokot, with 62 deaths, and Samburu with 77 deaths.

See Also

1. Annual number of deaths in Kenya
2. Adult mortality rates in Kenya by gender and county
3. Life expectancy in Kenya by sex and county

References