It is shameful to be known to have AIDS in Kenya so plenty of men and women carry the virus without telling others and spread it all the more. Women are so ashamed that it keeps them from seeking help in clinics. Children are affected by AIDS in a most distressing way. Although 10% of the world's population lives in Africa, it is home to 90% of the world's HIV-infected children. The vast majority of these children are infected with the deadly virus by their mother, during childbirth or from breastfeeding. Most of these children will not live to see their 5th birthdays. The children who do live longer are often left to fend for themselves in a world without parental guidance. In Kenya, one million children are classified as "AIDS orphans" (children 15 and under who have lost their mother or both parents to AIDS). These children remain disadvantaged, vulnerable, and undereducated. .
With nearly 15% of the population infected with HIV, the Kenyan government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), charities and international organizations have taken steps to educate the public on how to prevent the spread of AIDS and the actual causes and effects of the disease. Though the infection rate seems to have stabilized, the life expectancy in Kenya has fallen to a mere 45 years old. In recent years, the government has taken a more proactive approach in acknowledging the extent of the problem and facing the issue head on. In 2001, legislation was passed making the importation and production of generic anti-AIDS drugs legal in Kenya. In 2000, President Moi formed the National AIDS Control Council which studied how the government could affect the spread of AIDS. President Moi declared the disease a national disaster and made public statements approving the use of condoms and AIDS education. USAID recently developed a blood transfusion policy and is working with the government to increase awareness and the availability of health services.