The Health Ministry has requested Sh3.96 billion in emergency funding from the State to support Kenya's frontline health workers granting HIV treatment and support services amid uncertainty about donor funding.
The ministry said this funding would ensure uninterrupted service delivery as thousands of health workers risk losing their jobs due to financial constraints as donor funding becomes uncertain.
Kenya currently has about 41,500 health workers providing HIV care in all 47 counties, of which about 9,500 are supported by US government grants.
Harry Kimtai, the Principal Secretary for Medical Services, noted in a brief to the State that data available to county governments through the Council of Governors showed that 9,501 frontline workers were supported at a cost of Sh380,618,320 annually under the US government grants.
“United States President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) data shows a total of 41,547 staff providing HIV services, including clinical services, community support, and programme management in 47 counties from level II to VI health facilities at a total cost of Sh17.4 billion annually (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025),” said Mr Kimtai.
For years, Kenya has relied heavily on international support, particularly from Pepfar, to fund its HIV programmes. However, global financial shifts, competing health priorities, and donor fatigue have threatened the continuity of these services.
With uncertainties over US government funding setting off alarms and putting thousands of healthcare jobs at risk, and with government response systems on the spot, the slightest mistake risks reversing the gains made in controlling HIV.
According to Wilson Ogoye, a clinical officer in Nairobi, the impact of losing trained health workers is devastating, as HIV programmes depend on consistent care, adherence counselling, and prevention strategies to keep infections under control.
“Gaps in service delivery could lead to increased transmission rates, drug resistance, and loss of progress in controlling the epidemic, leaving thousands of patients without adequate care. Kenya has made significant progress in expanding access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and reducing new infections, but these gains remain fragile. Any disruption would push more people out of care, increasing morbidity and mortality,” said Mr Ogoye.
This situation reflects a wider trend of health workforce challenges in Kenya. The country has frequently faced delays in salary payments, shortages of medical staff, and an over-reliance on donor funding, affecting not only HIV services but also maternal health, tuberculosis care and immunisation programmes.
Past crises, such as nurses' strikes and drug shortages, have highlighted the need for sustainable local solutions rather than dependence on external aid.
The brief, supported by the National Aids and STIs Control Programme and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, says that beyond emergency funding, the government should consider long-term strategies such as conducting a human resources audit to optimise staffing, integrating HIV services into the broader health system to improve efficiency, and exploring sustainable domestic financing mechanisms.
