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Alex Mwakideu highlights HIV awareness gap as many remain unaware of their status
23rd June, 2026 03:59 PM
Media personality Alex Mwakideu has raised concerns over the number of people living with HIV who do not know their status.
He spoke about the importance of testing and understanding one’s health status. Mwakideu explained that despite progress in awareness, some people remain unaware that they are living with the virus.
“Out of 1.48 million Kenyans living with HIV, 93 per cent of them tayari washa pimwa, na wanajua hali yao ya afya,” Alex Mwakideu said on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
He explained that the remaining percentage represents people who have not been tested and therefore do not know whether they are living with HIV. According to him, this means some individuals continue with their daily activities without knowing their health status. He said this remains a concern.
“Lakini hii asilimia ingine iliyo salia ambayo kulingana na utafiti huu, ni kwamba mmoja, kati ya watano, wanaoishi na HIV hajua hali yake ya afya,” Alex Mwakideu said.
Mwakideu noted that a person who has not been tested may continue with normal life without knowing they are infected. He explained that this is one of the reasons conversations about testing remain important. He questioned why some people still avoid knowing their status.
“Yaani hajapimwa, so hajui kama anaishhi na HIV, inamaanisha nini, anaendelea na shughuli zake za kawaida,” Alex Mwakideu said.
Importance of knowing your status
Mwakideu further said he often finds himself asking why some people do not know their HIV status. He explained that testing provides important information about a person’s health. According to him, understanding one’s status is an important step.
“Ndio naulizwa maswali leo, kwa nini hujui? Mbona hujui?” Alex Mwakideu said.
He also spoke about how HIV is commonly transmitted. Mwakideu explained that one of the main causes of infection is unprotected sex. He said this is why people should take testing seriously and remain informed about their health.
“Again ukiangalia, mmojaa ya sababu kuu ya kuambukizwa virusi vya HIV kwa asilimia tisini na, ni kupitia kufanya mapenzi. Bila kinga. Ndio sababu kuu,” Alex Mwakideu said.
Mwakideu concluded by returning to the question of awareness and testing. He stressed the importance of knowing one’s health status rather than making assumptions. He said the conversation should encourage more people to seek testing.
