By Eddah Waithaka
KELIN raises alarm over faith healing assertions while affirming constitutional rights to both religion and healthcare.
The Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN) has voiced grave concern over recent public claims suggesting that faith healing can cure HIV, warning that such assertions could endanger lives and undermine decades of public health progress.
While acknowledging and respecting the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion under Article 32, KELIN emphasizes that these rights must not come at the expense of the right to health, also enshrined in the Constitution under Article 43(1)(a).
“These constitutional guarantees are not in conflict,” KELIN stated. “Every Kenyan is entitled to enjoy both the freedom of religion and the right to health.”
The organization highlights Kenya’s significant strides in expanding access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), which has dramatically reduced HIV-related illness and deaths, enabling people living with HIV to lead long and productive lives. These achievements, KELIN notes, stem from sustained public investment, scientific advancement, and respect for human rights.
However, KELIN warns that unsubstantiated claims of a cure whether through faith or unproven remedies could influence treatment decisions and create dangerous uncertainty among people living with HIV and their families.
“Interruptions in treatment can have serious consequences for individual health and may undermine the significant progress Kenya has made in responding to HIV,” the organization cautioned.
The HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act, 2006 affirms the rights of people living with HIV to access healthcare, to be treated with dignity, and to be protected from discrimination. KELIN stresses that these protections are strengthened when individuals make health decisions based on accurate, reliable, and evidence-informed information.
Given the gravity of the situation, KELIN has issued an urgent appeal to all persons occupying positions of public trust including religious leaders, healthcare professionals, lawyers, public officials, and the media to exercise care when making public statements on health matters.
“With public influence comes public responsibility,” the organization declared. “Statements that may affect health-seeking behavior should be made responsibly and with due regard to the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of those who may rely upon them.”
KELIN further emphasized that this is not a question of faith versus medicine, nor an attempt to limit anyone’s constitutional right to worship. Rather, it is about ensuring that every person can exercise both religious freedom and the right to health in a manner that protects life and enables informed decision-making.
Kenya’s HIV response has demonstrated the power of partnerships between faith communities, civil society, healthcare providers, and government institutions. KELIN reaffirms that these collaborations remain essential and should continue to be guided by respect for human dignity, constitutional values, and evidence-informed public health practice.
The organization has committed to engaging relevant stakeholders including organizations representing people living with HIV, faith leaders, professional bodies, and government institutions to promote dialogue on responsible public communication, constitutional rights, and the protection of public health.
KELIN urges all people living with HIV to continue taking their prescribed treatment and to consult qualified healthcare providers before making any decision to interrupt or discontinue medication.
