Nairobi, Kenya – Political and religious leaders from Kenya’s North Eastern region are calling for urgent action after revealing that less than 10% of eligible girls there have received the life-saving HPV vaccine. Despite a nationwide immunization drive launched in 2019 to protect against cervical cancer, uptake in counties like Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa remains critically low – with some areas reporting under 2% coverage. At a meeting in Nairobi on July 21, local officials and Muslim clerics attributed the poor turnout to deep-rooted myths and misconceptions about the vaccine, including false beliefs that it causes infertility or is part of a birth control agenda.

“Our people still believe the HPV vaccine is a form of contraception,” explained Wajir County First Lady Rukia Abdinasir, noting that mistrust has discouraged many parents from allowing their daughters to get the jab. Historically, some Northern Kenya communities were not adequately consulted when the vaccine was introduced, breeding suspicion of government campaigns in an already marginalized region. Religious leaders admit they were initially skeptical as well, but Kenya’s top Islamic authorities now endorse the vaccine after years of dialogue with health experts.

With cervical cancer claiming thousands of Kenyan women’s lives each year, health officials are ramping up outreach. The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) is mobilizing imams to educate congregants that the HPV vaccine is safe and vital for their daughters’ health. County governments are also deploying more health workers to remote areas and involving elders to rebuild trust. “We consider this the real launch of the HPV vaccine campaign in Northern Kenya,” said Mandera Deputy Governor Ali Maalim, emphasizing that community buy-in is essential to save lives. Officials warn that unless the tide is turned, the region will continue to see preventable cervical cancer deaths due to the low immunization rates.