Condoms shortage hits Kenya, residents complain

Residents of Busia county, Kenya are decrying a shortage of government-supplied condoms.

The residents, a majority of whom are commercial s3x workers in Busia town, say they are now forced to wash and reuse the contraceptives to meet the s3xual needs of their customers.

A s3x worker, who spoke to a local television station said the county has been experiencing a shortage of female and male condoms for a while and the few that are available are from the neighbouring country, Uganda.

To protect themselves against dreaded s3xually transmitted infections such as HIV, the women who can’t afford to buy condoms resort to recycling them after washing them, oblivious of the dangers involved.

“We are pleading with the government to release condoms to Busia because our lives are at risk,” the woman told NTV.

Other residents also said they risk unplanned pregnancies if the government doesn’t intervene.

Janerose Ambuchi, the Director of Medical Services in Busia county, however, said her office was not aware of the recycling of the contraceptives.

“It has not come to my desk but if it’s happening it should not be allowed to continue because the integrity of the condom is going to be affected. The second and third use because of lack of condoms will expose this generation to danger,” Ambuchi said.