Controversial claims by Prophet David Owuor that people living with HIV have been healed at his religious crusades have drawn sharp responses from lawyer and medical doctor Stella Bosire.
She cautioned that testing negative for HIV does not mean a patient is cured, highlighting the importance of continued medical treatment.
In a post on X, Bosire drew on her professional experience in infectious diseases and her legal background to explain the science behind HIV management.
She noted that Kenya has over three million people living with HIV, most of whom rely on lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) to suppress the virus.
“Many patients on ART achieve undetectable viral levels, which may result in standard tests showing negative results,” Bosire said. “This is the basis of U=U — Undetectable equals Untransmittable — but it does not mean the virus is gone.”
She warned that discontinuing treatment based on misconceptions about miraculous healing could be dangerous.
Advanced testing, such as PCR tests on bone marrow and other tissues, can still detect HIV even when viral loads in the blood are suppressed.
Stopping ART can lead to rapid health deterioration and increased risk of drug resistance.
Bosire framed the debate as a balance between religious freedom and the state’s obligation to protect public health.
While Kenyans have the right to practice their faith, promoting unproven treatments for infectious diseases could undermine national HIV control efforts and put lives at risk.
Her explanation underscores that scientific evidence should guide HIV interventions to prevent avoidable illness and death.
Dr Bosire stressed that while faith is important, patients must continue adhering to ART and rely on proven medical treatments to manage HIV safely.
The statements come amid heightened public discussion on faith healing, medical ethics, and the responsibility of religious leaders when making health-related claims in Kenya.