He is always dressed in a red mock military uniform, with badges, ribbons, whistles and a crowned cap bearing the words “King of Condom”.
Stanley Ngara, popularly known as King, uses humour when interacting with the youth, you rarely miss him along the corridors of Nairobi streets spreading awareness about safe sex.
He has been fighting the HIV/AIDS menace from the trenches for decades, probably from the 1980s after the death of his close friends, and he has results to show for it. He wears a flashy smile on his face that attracts youth and whenever he spots a group of ladies, the “king” normally calls out, “Hey, pretty lady, want some condoms? It’s free please just pic”
In an interview with Opera News, Ngara states that when he started teaching young Kenyans about safe sex, he found many of those present too embarrassed to listen to his message since discussing sex topics in public was a taboo.
He states that many of the girls (and boys!) selling sex are HIV negative, and normally, he always advises them to get tested regularly and use protection to prevent the spread of the disease.
“In 1980s, condoms were being associated with prostitutes, the resistance from the society was very immerse, “he stated.
He narrates that in Africa, people are shy of discussing sex and condom topics as they associate them with evil people, but after the death of his close friends, he decided to carry out a campaign to educate society on the importance of safe sex.
“My dressing code is very unique, and whenever youth spot me, they don’t shy off and they are comfortable on asking any sex-related question, “he notes, adding that Kenya is the fourth-largest HIV epidemic in the world, with 1.6 million people living with the virus according to the United Nations statistics 2018.
Stanley gets the condoms from national LVCT Health where he works as a coordinator. The organization is supported by Elton John AIDS Foundation.
He has called on the young Kenyans to practice safe sex by using condoms during this year’s Valentine’s Day.
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“My mission is very simple, just to let the youth “condomize” if they can’t abstain, my service to the people is my loyalty to my country,” he asserted adding that in a week, he distributes about 6,000 condoms.
Mr Ngara states that from offices to street corners, brothels to church, no one hasn’t smelt his “sure” perfume.
“Am always everywhere, my name has become a landmark across Africa, I have addressed forum where President Uhuru was present, Margaret Kenyatta, Mike Sonko and Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, they were impressed and I could tell,” he stated.
On Thursday 13, during international condoms day in Nyeri, Ngara distributed more than 100,000 of them to social places including bars, restaurants and bus stations.
International Condom Day promotes the use of condoms as a means of preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The proportion of people living with HIV/Aids has declined over the years but Kenya has the highest prevalence in the East African region.
The 2019 study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) conducted at the University of Washington shows that the HIV incidence has declined to 5.6 per cent.
The study indicated that the proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS has declined over the years but Kenya has the highest prevalence in the East African region.
Women in Kenya are more vulnerable to HIV infection compared to men.
Despite the rapid scale-up of ART since 2000, HIV/Aids is still the most common cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa, according to data from the Global Burden of Disease.
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