Misinformation about Pepfar puts millions of lives at stake in Kenya

When former US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec interracted with hair stylists as he visited a President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) project for girls' empowerment in Nairobi, on March 10, 2018. [AFP]

Many Kenyans may not be aware of the wave of misinformation currently making waves in the US but with potentially serious consequences for Kenyans, especially those living with HIV and those committed to the fight against HIV.

It all started on June 6, when a letter signed by at least 10 Kenyan parliamentarians alongside religious leaders raised questions about the US Government's President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) and its commitment to "family values". This letter, addressed to the US Congress and Senate falsely claimed that Pepfar funds meant for HIV interventions were being used to support family planning and other reproductive health services including abortion.