KHALID: Society must retrace its steps to save youth from HIV

The latest statistics on HIV-AIDS infections among young people in Nairobi are as heartbreaking as they are alarming. As a nation, we find ourselves staring at a stark and painful truth that our youth, the very engine of our country's future, are increasingly vulnerable to infections that should by now be preventable, avoidable and fully under control.

Yet here we are, confronted by the grim reality that new infections among young Kenyans, especially those in Nairobi, are rising rather than falling. This is not just a medical crisis. It is a moral, cultural and societal reckoning.

It is saddening to acknowledge that Kenya is gradually losing its moral and religious compass. We are slowly drifting from the values that once anchored us, the values that guided our families and communities and kept our societies cohesive.

Parents who once had clear influence over their children are now struggling to compete with the endless stream of Western content available in every young person's pocket. Through mobile phones, social media, YouTube and television, a different worldview, which is often unchecked, glamourised and ungrounded, has taken centre stage in shaping the mindset and behaviour of our youth.

We cannot deny that these screens have become the new classrooms, influencing how young people speak, think and relate, often in ways that chip away at the foundations of our cultural and religious values.

Religious leaders, too, are losing ground. Their voices, once powerful and respected, are now competing with influencers, celebrities and digital personalities who command unmatched attention and shape trends at lightning speed.

In the past, the church, mosque and temple served as moral compasses. Today, their messages are drowned in the noise of global content that promotes casual sex, instant gratification and moral relativism.

As this happens, our society drifts further away from the principles that once kept us grounded. Principles such as responsibility, restraint, faithfulness and respect for oneself and others.

The rise in HIV infections among the youth is not a coincidence. It is a reflection of a deeper erosion of guidance, accountability and shared values. If our young people are increasingly engaging in risky sexual behaviour, it is because the traditional structures that once kept them safe – strong families, open conversations, moral instruction and community mentorship – are weakening.

As a country, we must be honest with ourselves and accept that we have failed our young people long before the infections set in. We failed in guiding them, failed in engaging them and failed in providing them with the moral frameworks necessary to navigate an increasingly complex world.

This is why it is absolutely necessary for both the state and society to go back to the drawing board. We must take a step back and re-evaluate where we lost our way, what we neglected and what we need to fix urgently.

We must rebuild the very systems that shape young minds and restore the values that once held our communities together. We cannot afford to pretend that things will fix themselves. They will not. Unless we collectively act now, we risk losing an entire generation.

A serious and renewed commitment must be made to teaching the ABC approach: Abstain, Be Faithful, Condomise. These are not outdated principles. They are life-saving, practical and grounded in the reality of our times.

Today's Gen Z, exposed to information from every corner of the world, require more than just warnings and lectures. They require practical guidance, honest conversations and relatable mentorship. They need to understand that choices have consequences, that life is precious and that protecting oneself is not old-fashioned but it is wisdom.

Parents must be empowered to talk openly with their children. Conversations that once felt uncomfortable must now become normal. Schools must integrate comprehensive, value-based sexuality education that is not just biological but moral and personal.

Religious leaders must reclaim their space in guiding young minds, using modern platforms and relatable language to influence positively. Government institutions must invest more boldly in awareness campaigns that resonate with youth culture rather than preach at it. Community groups must step forward to mentor and guide.

As we talk about solutions, let us be clear that pointing fingers at the younger generation is not the answer. They did not create the environment in which they are growing up. We, the adults, built the world they inherited, its strengths as well as its failures.

It is therefore unfair and counterproductive to blame them for symptoms of a deeper societal decay. Instead, we must walk with them. We must empower them with knowledge, protect them with support and guide them with compassion.

At the end of the day, this battle cannot be won by condemning or shaming the youth. It can only be won by engaging them, listening to them and working alongside them. It is only when our efforts are united that we can reverse these troubling statistics. We owe it to our young people. We owe it to the future of our nation.

The writer is the CEO, VOCAL Africa