Media personality Caroline Mutoko has issued a sharp challenge to young Kenyans, known as Generation Z, following the release of sobering official statistics on new HIV infections.
Her comments addressed the apparent lack of fear surrounding the virus among this age group.
The callout comes as Kenya registered a national rise of 19 per cent in new HIV cases compared to the previous year.
Mutoko: ‘Protection Isn't Old-School’
Caroline Mutoko took to social media to address the younger generation directly. She highlighted that the rise in cases is hitting their age group hardest.
She directly addressed the casual attitude some youth adopt towards protection.
“Protection isn’t old-school, it’s self-respect. We can’t “it’s not that deep” our way out of this. HIV cases in Nairobi are up 19% — and it’s hitting your age group hardest,” she challenged.
She urged the youth to take personal responsibility for their health status.
“You spend more time choosing your outfit than it takes to get tested”.
She emphasised the need to act immediately: "Know your status. Protect your peace".
The Cost of Successful Destigmatisation
Mutoko linked the current casual attitude to successful past health campaigns. She recalled the early 2000s when broadcasters worked to destigmatise HIV and AIDS.
She noted that this effort was successful. However, she believes this success has led the current generation to think "it’s not a big deal".
Mutoko, reflecting on her experience as a broadcaster, shared personal memories of the virus’s devastating impact.
READ TOO: Nairobi Tops National HIV Infection Report, New Data Shows
“I, as Caroline, have lost family members... we buried those men, and then a few years later we buried their wives, and then their children went on ARVs”.
She cautioned those who are 25 years old (born in 2000) that they must take the matter seriously. She warned that the strains of the viruses today are "bigger, better, and bolder".
"If you don't take yourself seriously, you're not going to be here in another 10 years," she stressed.
Nairobi Leads in Infections
Latest data from the Ministry of Health indicates a significant upward trend, particularly in the capital. Nairobi County reported the highest number of new infections, recording more than 3,000 fresh cases in the past year.
Nationwide, Kenya documented 19,991 new infections during the same period. Crucially, the youth aged 15–34 accounted for 54 per cent of all these new cases.
Health officials link the surge among young people to limited access to prevention services, inconsistent condom use, and low testing rates, especially within urban informal settlements.
Sustained Awareness Needed
The alarming figures were released just before World AIDS Day, observed on Monday, December 1, 2025. To raise awareness, the Ministry of Health held a national HIV awareness half-marathon.
ALSO READ: How Gen-Z is Normalising HIV Status on TikTok
The event’s theme was “One Race, One Goal: Ending AIDS among Adolescents and Young People”.
Free testing, counselling, and information on Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) were offered at the stadium.
Health authorities remain concerned about the rising trend, especially among the youth in Nairobi.
Sustained awareness campaigns and better access to prevention tools are needed to reverse the curve before the 2030 target of ending AIDS as a public health threat.
Kenya currently has 1.3 million people living with HIV on treatment. The new statistics serve as a stark reminder that the fight against HIV is far from finished.
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