• The self-declared 'king of condoms' gets government-issued Sure condoms from his workplace.
• He has volunteers he calls queens and princes in Malindi, Kirinyaga, Kiambu and Oyugis.
Stanley Ngara stands out in the streets in his deliberately chosen red jacket and ‘king of condoms’ crown.
On a busy day, the self-proclaimed ‘king of condoms’, can distribute an average of 7,200 Sure condoms.
Apart from dishing out the sexual health promotion items, Ngara also raises awareness on sexually transmitted illnesses. This is a job the man, now in his mid-forties, has been doing since 2010.
He gets the government-issued Sure condoms from his workplace. “I work with LVCT Health to promote a healthy nation by raising awareness on HIV-Aids in our country,” he said.
He spoke in Nairobi on Saturday during the World Contraception Day commemoration attended by among others Health Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi.
Ngara said he decided to “normalise” the conversation about HIV-Aids, risk of sexually transmitted infections and use of contraceptives after losing friends to the disease and watching the suffering experienced by the bereaved families. “We are telling people what their mothers, uncles and aunties didn’t tell them. The failure by relatives to do so puts them at risk,” he said.
He was accompanied by ‘queen’ Brenda Alwanyi, who is reading for a master’s degree at Kenyatta University.
Ngara has volunteers he calls ‘queens and princes’ in Malindi, Kirinyaga, Kiambu and Oyugis.
His attire is what draws people to him to collect condoms. “I have put myself in a way that allows people to come to me,” he said.
Brenda reigns in Nairobi county. She travels from one campus to another spreading the awareness message and distributing condoms. The 24-year-old began volunteering while she was an undergraduate in 2016 after a friend was infected with HIV-Aids.
“When first-years come to university, I teach them because they are usually nervous,” she said.
According to her, people should choose what type of life they want after campus and work towards achieving it.
“I started in KU and I am still the ‘queen of condoms’ there while studying for my master’s. I have also taught at Moi University, Eldoret University, Rift Valley Institute and Sigalagala,” she said.
CAS Mwangangi emphasised the importance of making family planning more accessible, noting that the government is committed to providing quality family planning services. This is done by providing an enabling environment, quality and safe contraceptives, setting standards, regular monitoring and reflection on the progress made, she said.
She said Kenya has transitioned from 36 per cent of married women using modern family planning methods since 2007 to 62 per cent.
“We do take note that there is increased access and increased use of quality and safe methods of fertility management.
“We can see that in Kenya the total number of births per woman has declined from 4.8 in 2007 to the current regional low of 3.4 births,” the CAS said.
Mwangangi disclosed that Kenya spends Sh7 billion annually on family planning services from both the private and public sectors.
“There is a contribution of Sh800 million towards direct purchase of contraceptives for the public. We will ensure this increases and that gaps are closed,” she said.
- mwaniki fm