Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo has issued a formal apology to the residents of Homa Bay County following controversial remarks he made about HIV/AIDS prevalence in the region.
In a statement dated April 11, 2025, and shared by Homa Bay County Governor, Kilonzo expressed regret over comments he made earlier while flagging off the Makueni sports team to the Kenya Youth Inter County Sports Association games set to be held in Homa Bay County.
“I had no intention of victimizing, or besmirching the people of Homa Bay. I was cautioning the youth. I realise that my words on HIV/AIDS in Homa Bay may have led to a misunderstanding. My apologies to my colleague, Hon. Gladys Wanga, and the people of Homa Bay for the misunderstanding,” Governor Kilonzo stated in the official communication from his office.
Mutula’s remarks
The controversy erupted after Kilonzo made remarks suggesting that HIV/AIDS was normalized in Homa Bay County.
In his earlier statement, he claimed that residents of Homa Bay have no problem with HIV and that people openly discuss collecting medication on the streets without stigma, cautioning the youth against engaging in ‘raha‘ (pleasure) while in the county.
“Homa Bay is a good county, but they love pleasure. And when they indulge in that pleasure, unlike in Makueni—and we were told this, and I must say it because I would be irresponsible not to—they have no issue in Homa Bay with HIV,” he stated.
“In fact, a doctor who came to see me last week told me that people just walk around openly saying, ‘Go and get my medication.’ There’s no stigma; it’s just a part of life. So please, I ask you to be cautious,” he added.
His comments sparked immediate backlash on social media platforms, with many Kenyans condemning the remarks as insensitive and perpetuating stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS.
Wanga’s response
Governor Wanga responded to the apology in a brief statement, accepting Kilonzo’s regret over the matter.
“Apology accepted and welcome to the county of endless potential!” she wrote on her X account on April 11, 2025.
