No condoms? Don't recycle!

John Kiprono, a 22-year-old beautician working in Eldoret town also admits that condoms are out of his reach.

"Sometimes you ask yourself if you will buy the condoms or buy food. We men are suffering because we don't want to take the risk and then end up with gonorrhoea or something worse," he said.

He said most young people have opted for sex with girls, who they perceive as less likely to be infected because they cannot afford condoms for protection.

His friend Kipng'etich, a businessman in Eldoret wonders what happened to the dispensers that used to be found in every public toilet, government hospital or public place that had a continuous supply of free condoms. He explains that most people have resorted to either borrowing condoms from friends or recycling the used ones.

"I wonder what people will do now that Valentine's Day is here yet there is no money to buy condoms in the shops. Can you imagine a packet of condoms going at Sh150 to 200? How many will afford?"

Nelson Otwoma of NEPHAK has urged the government to ensure the few batches of condoms that are at KEMSA are distributed to the counties to ease the demand.

He says this scarcity has been going on for months with the government promising to increase the supply yet nothing has been done.

"We shouldn't just talk about condoms on World Condoms Day or on Valentine's Day. This should be a continuous conversation because we need protection against infections all year round," he says.

Further, he cautioned those that have been recycling condoms by washing them saying that they are not recyclable except the female condoms which are also not available.

"The ones that are washing condoms are not protecting anyone. It is just the comforting thought that one is at least wearing something but once it is used, it cannot be washed and still protect anyone. They are exposing themselves to infections."

He urged the government to ensure that there is a steady supply, especially for teenagers who cannot afford to buy them.

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