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Youth most vulnerable to HIV infection due to lack of awareness

Stanley Ngara "King of condoms" at the Kedong ranch during the WRC.

Photo credit: Bret Sanya/Mtaa Wangu

By  BRET SANYA

Correspondent

Mtaa Wangu

Stanley Ngara, also known as the "King of Condoms", tells a chilling story of how, 28 years ago, the mere mention of HIV/AIDS struck fear into the hearts and minds of many Kenyans.

"In 1995, HIV/AIDS was declared a pandemic and at that time, there was immense stigma surrounding the disease. I lost many of my friends to HIV/AIDS and it was this personal experience that pushed me to start raising awareness about the virus," he recalls.

He adds: "In 1998, HIV/AIDS was declared a national disaster and at that time, if you were seen interacting with someone known to be living with the disease, people assumed you had it too. As someone at the forefront of educating others about HIV/AIDS, I became a target of that stigma.

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Despite the challenges, Stanley was undeterred in his mission. He tells the fascinating story of how he earned the nickname "King of Condoms".

"I continued with my advocacy and even started touring universities, visiting campuses across the country to talk about safe sex practices, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In 2012, while at Kenyatta University, students started calling me the 'King of Condoms' and that name has stuck with me ever since," he explains.

This is Stanley's fourth time attending the World Rally Championship (WRC).

"I have brought 72,000 condoms with me, which I intend to distribute throughout the event. I also see this as an excellent opportunity to reach a large audience and educate people about HIV prevention and the importance of safe sex," he says.

He encourages Kenyans to prioritise condom use. He points out that, unfortunately, many would rather spend their money on luxuries than something as essential as condoms.

"We need to change our perspective," he says. "Condoms should be seen as a safety tool, like wearing a helmet or gloves to protect yourself."

He also addresses the misconception that condoms are only for sex workers or people in extramarital affairs.

"HIV/AIDS has been around for 40 years. It's a reality we've lived with for a long time and it's important that we protect ourselves," he concludes.