HIV patients in Kenya are facing growing uncertainty as the country struggles with drug shortages following a freeze on U.S. foreign aid. The delay has left millions of dollars' worth of life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and medical supplies stranded in a warehouse, unable to reach clinics and patients in need.
At a health clinic in Nairobi, Alice Okwirry, who depends on ARV medication, has been receiving only a one-month supply instead of the usual three-month refill. Meanwhile, the warehouse containing the essential drugs remains stocked but inactive due to a lack of funding for distribution.
The 90-day foreign aid freeze, initiated by former U.S. President Donald Trump after taking office on January 20, has disrupted the global medical supply chain. Kenya, which relies heavily on U.S. support to combat HIV, is among the countries severely affected. According to a former USAID official and a Kenyan health authority, the halt in funding has led to critically low stocks of key HIV treatments such as Dolutegravir and Nevirapine.
A government document reviewed by Reuters estimates that around $10 million is needed to distribute the $34 million worth of medicine and medical supplies currently held in the warehouse. The Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS), the Christian charity that operates the warehouse, provides medicines to approximately 2,000 clinics across Kenya.
Kenya has one of the highest HIV burdens in the world, with approximately 1.4 million people living with the virus. The U.S.-funded President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supplies around 40% of Kenya’s HIV drugs and medical support. However, due to the ongoing aid freeze, some patients are now receiving only a week's worth of medication at a time.
Health Minister Deborah Barasa assured that her government is working to mobilize funds to release the stockpile within the next few weeks. “We have identified the resources that are required,” she said. Once the MEDS stocks are released, Kenya is expected to have enough Dolutegravir for five months and Nevirapine for eight months.
In the U.S., lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration to restore funding for humanitarian programs. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently confirmed that more than 80% of all USAID programs have been canceled.
Kenya’s government is now reviewing emergency funding options to mitigate the impact of the U.S. cuts. Finance Minister John Mbadi informed senators that the budget for 2025/26 may include provisions to address the $80 million funding gap created by the aid freeze.
As legal battles and budget discussions continue, HIV patients in Kenya remain in limbo, unsure when they will receive stable access to their life-saving medication.