All fans who visit Naivasha for the WRC Safari Rally, have been advised to carry extra condoms following the acute shortage of condoms in town.
The condom suppliers have raised concern that free condoms normally procured and distributed by the government are scarce, therefore, those looking for some hanky-panky, should carry their own means of protection for their bedroom business.
In a philanthropic bid, some parastatal organizations have joined the Naivasha three-day event as a catalyst to help curb the condom shortage.
“We have 10,000 condoms only that were bought by our partners because at the moment there are no free ones that are usually given out by the government,” King’s Condom’s Promotion CEO Stanley Ngara said.
Ngara however said, together with his team, they are in Naivasha to sensitize the youths about the dangers of unsafe sex during such events.
“We are approaching young girls to educate and distribute to them the available condoms in collaboration with AHF Kenya who bought the protective gears,” explained Ngara.
“If the demand will be high, we will be forced to increase the number of condoms for Saturday and the climax of the event on Sunday,” he added
Ngara however stated that the condoms they distribute worth KSh 50 are more protective and of good quality compared to the free ones provided by the government.
He said that the condom crisis is a result of high tax imposition by the government but he noted that there is a need to address the situation to avoid an upsurge in cases of HIV, teen pregnancies and and other sexually transmitted diseases.
“The government has been procuring the condoms on its own, while some NGOs procure on their own to supplement what is available because the demand is so high,” Ngara noted.
Ngara has been distributing free condoms to men and commercial sex workers in the country for more than 20 years. He says the situation needs urgent discussion.
“Not long ago, an NGO procured condoms worth Sh10 million but the taxes were almost double the amount, yet their aim is to supplement what the government offers for free,” he noted
He noted with concern the scarcity of condoms in the country, regarding it as major contributor to STDs and infections.
“The government is giving out free ARVS, yet they are putting people at risk. The high taxes which are being imposed on the protective gears will come to haunt the government,” Ngara added.
According to recent statistics in a report, around 1.1 million condoms, 908,000 mosquito nets, and tuberculosis drugs worth $91,000 (KSh 10.7 million) disappeared from Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) and were purportedly sold privately in pharmacies.
Non-Governmental Organizations have chipped in to save the situation for the rally enthusiasts who will attend the three-day event in Naivasha.
