July 2001 Africa News Headlines

Friday, July 13, 2001 - Web posted at 10:47:57 GMT

Moi calls for 2 years of sexual abstinence

NAIROBI - Kenyans should abstain from sex for two years as a means of preventing AIDS, President Daniel arap Moi said in a speech reported yesterday.

Moi admitted he is embarrassed about a plan announced this week to import about 14 million dollars worth of condoms into Kenya in the coming year, local media reported."

"I feel shy as your president to be spending millions of shillings on the importation of over 200 million condoms annually whose use can easily be avoided," Moi told a meeting of the national society of pharmacists.

He then suggested those who use condoms should instead abstain from sex for two years, a move that he said would save a generation.

Last month, Moi said a person who infects someone else with HIV should face the death penalty.

Until 1999, Moi was criticised by AIDS activists and medical officials for not talking enough about AIDS.

Late that year, he declared AIDS a national emergency."

"HIV-AIDS is the greatest challenge facing our nation today and no effort should be spared in fighting this menace," Moi said in his speech to the pharmacists on Wednesday.

Some 2,3 million Kenyans are infected with HIV and an estimated 700 people die every day from AIDS.

The plan to import condoms - aided by a recent finance ministry decision to drop duty on the prophylactics - has drawn criticism from Christian and Moslem leaders in Kenya.

They have argued that it encourages promiscuity and claim that condoms do not prevent the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

- Nampa-Sapa-DPA

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