The state of HIV among the adolescents and young people in Kenya

Kenya has an estimated population of over 41 million people. The population is growing at a very high rate annually at over 900,000 births per year. Majority of the Kenyan population is made up of young people. 45% of the general population in Kenya are young people below the age of 15 while 19% of the general population are young people between the ages of 15 to 24 years.

According to the National Aids Control Council Approximately 29% of all new HIV infections here in Kenya are among young people and the adolescents. In age group 15 to 19 years new HIV infections stands at 70% for women and 30% for men while in age group 20 to 24 years it stands at 62% for women and 38% for men. It is also estimated that 16% of all people living with HIV in Kenya are adolescents and young people and that 16% of all people in need of ART are adolescents and youth. Moreover according to the Kenya demographic health survey 2014, 9,720 adolescents and young people in Kenya died of AIDS.