Kenya is reaching out to its gay community in an attempt to halt HIV/AIDs, but sceptics believe few will take up the offer while homosexuality remains illegal.

Planning to conduct a ‘census’ of gay men, Kenya is hoping to develop better HIV prevention programs and targetted interventions, according to the BBC. The interventions will include provision of condoms to groups and communities that are most at risk, including gay men.

”[Gay men] must be reached with information and services so they know how to protect themselves from getting infected,” Nicholas Muraguri, head of Kenya’s Aids prevention program NASCOP, told the BBC.

“Kenyans cannot actually afford to say that the gay community are isolated somewhere in the corner – they are part of our lives,” Muraguri said.

According to AFP, the current estimate of gay men in Kenyan capital, Nairobi, is 10,000 out of the city’s total population of around 3 million.

Recent statistics indicate 6 per cent of Kenya’s population are HIV positive and 15 per cent of new infections amongst the gay community.

Critics of the census fear gay men will be reluctant to come forward, especially considering homosexuality is still illegal in Kenya. NASCOP, however, insists that the census will be conducted through anonymous questionnaires and will rely on peer networks and word of mouth within the gay community.

“It is the first time in Africa that a government is taking a leadership to deal with population at risk,” Muraguri told AFP, saying confidentiality of respondents will be maintained and free HIV tests offered to those who participate.

Homosexual acts carry a maximum 14 year gaol sentence in Kenya.