Transforming HIV Prevention in Kenya: The Journey of Jikinge

Prishita Vora
Sep 12
3 min read

Updated: Oct 24

In 2017, I embarked on one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys of my career: creating a mobile application to support HIV prevention and management in Kenya. The app was named Jikinge—Swahili for “Protect Yourself.” It emerged from both frustration and hope. I was frustrated to see my community continue to battle HIV/AIDS amid stigma and limited access to care. Yet, I was hopeful that technology could break barriers and empower people to live healthier, stigma-free lives.

The Spark: Why Jikinge?

Sub-Saharan Africa carries 70% of the global HIV burden. Kenya alone accounts for about 7% of new infections and 5% of AIDS-related deaths. Despite significant progress, stigma, misinformation, and treatment gaps continued to harm the most vulnerable.

As a healthcare professional and community advocate, I witnessed how silence and discrimination isolated people living with HIV. Many were afraid to get tested or seek care. At the same time, smartphone penetration in Kenya was already at 67%, one of the highest in Africa. I saw an opportunity: if people could access financial services through their phones, why not confidential healthcare support too?

Building the Solution

With my background in healthcare management and public health, I envisioned an app that would:

Provide educational content (blogs, videos, FAQs) in English and Swahili.
Offer confidential sign-in, protecting user identity.
Include pill reminders and appointment alerts to support adherence to treatment.
Track CD4 counts and viral load graphically so users and providers could follow progress.
Use GPS mapping to link users to the nearest VCT centers, clinics, and doctors.
Facilitate anonymous consultations with enrolled caregivers.
Incentivize participation with airtime and rewards for completing learning modules.

We ensured cultural sensitivity. The app dispelled harmful myths—such as the belief that HIV can be cured by sex with a young girl—and reinforced evidence-based prevention strategies.

Partnerships and Recognition

Jikinge was supported by grants, including one from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and received backing from local partners who believed in its potential. Premium Energy Kenya also awarded us $4,000 to support outreach activities.

Beyond funding, partnerships with NGOs, ministries, and mobile networks were crucial. We envisioned scaling the app by linking it to mobile money incentives—rewarding users with airtime for engaging with prevention modules and quizzes.

Impact and Early Results

In its first phase, Jikinge reached over 1,000 users. What made it powerful was not just the numbers, but the feedback: people felt less alone. They could ask questions without shame, remember their pills because of reminders, and finally know where to go for testing.

It wasn’t perfect. Building a digital health tool in a resource-constrained setting meant technical and financial challenges. However, it showed that mobile technology could transform HIV prevention and care, especially for marginalized groups like sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM), and persons who inject drugs (PWID).

Closure in 2019

Despite its early success, the Jikinge app was officially closed in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic placed extraordinary strain on healthcare systems, pulling doctors and health professionals to the front lines. Combined with limited funding and resources, we could no longer sustain the pro bono medical consultations or maintain the platform effectively. It was a difficult decision, but one made with the recognition that the fight against HIV required active frontline capacity that was stretched thin during the global crisis.

Lessons Learned

Technology is only part of the solution—trust, partnerships, and cultural sensitivity matter just as much.
Stigma is the greatest barrier—anonymity gave users the courage to engage.
Sustainability requires integration—digital solutions must connect with real-world health services.
Incentives drive behavior change—small rewards like airtime encouraged continuous learning and adherence.

Looking Forward

My vision for Jikinge was never limited to Kenya. If successful, it could have been adapted for other countries, tailored to local languages and cultures, and integrated with public health systems. Technology alone will not end HIV, but it can be a powerful ally. With apps like Jikinge, we can give people the tools, knowledge, and confidence to protect themselves, seek care, and live with dignity.

Closing Thought

When I think back on this journey, I’m proud not just of the app we built, but of the message it carried: You are not alone. Protect yourself. Jikinge.