Joe Muriuki, the first Kenyan to go public about HIV status has passed away.

His death was confirmed by Nephak, an organisation that supports people living with HIV and AIDS.

Dr Joe Muriuki had lived with the HIV virus for over 30 years.

For nearly 27 of those years, he resisted ARVs, adding that he maintained a stable CD4 count of over 400 through a healthy diet, keeping active and a positive attitude.

He announced to the world that he was HIV positive in 1987, becoming the first Kenyan to do so.

Muriuki was one of the first people to take Kemron- a HIV drug invented by Kenyan researchers.

Kemron was released in Kenya in 1991 and purported to be effective in treating AIDS but was later discovered to perform no better than a placebo.

Muriuki served at the HIV tribunal as a representative of people living with HIV and was a member of the regional task force that worked on the formulation of the East African HIV and Aids Management Act.

In 2017, he unsuccessfully applied to be nominated to the East African Legislative Assembly in order to represent people living with HIV.

AbujaAgent:
Skin to skin take note

Dr Joe Muriuki had lived with the HIV virus for over 30 years.