Followers linked to the ministry of self-proclaimed prophet David Owuor have threatened legal action against the Ministry of Health, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Kenya Medical Research Institute, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, and the Attorney General over disputed HIV test results.
Millicent Awino and Peter Oyan, both members of the Ministry of Repentance and Holiness, claim they were previously diagnosed with HIV/AIDS at government health facilities before later testing negative—an outcome they attribute to what they describe as miraculous healing during crusades and prayer sessions linked to Prophet Owuor.
Claims of Healing Through Crusades and Broadcasts
According to Awino, she initially tested HIV-positive at Ulungu Dispensary before undergoing a confirmatory test at another government facility, after which she was enrolled in antiretroviral therapy (ART).
She alleges that her condition later changed after attending a televised prayer session associated with Prophet Owuor, prompting her to seek another HIV test.
Awino says a subsequent test at a sub-county hospital returned a negative result, and that additional tests conducted at different facilities also confirmed she was HIV-negative.
Oyan made similar claims, stating that he tested HIV-positive in 2012 and remained on treatment until May 2014, when he says he was healed during a gospel crusade held in Menengai, Nakuru.
“The people who identify that you are HIV positive are doctors. The people who will confirm that you have been healed are doctors,” the two stated.
Demand for Clarification from Health Authorities
Together with other members of the ministry, Awino and Oyan have formally written to the Ministry of Health and KEMRI demanding clarification over what they describe as conflicting HIV test results.
The demands were made public on May 6, 2026, outside Milimani Law Courts, where the pair reiterated that their alleged healing took place during religious crusades linked to Prophet Owuor.
Awino maintains that her experience followed a televised prayer broadcast, while Oyan says his occurred during the Menengai crusade.
Lawyers Challenge KEMRI Findings
In a demand notice dated May 6, 2026, the petitioners’ legal team argued that KEMRI’s position contradicts existing medical records and Awino’s documented treatment history within Kenya’s national HIV programme.
The lawyers contend that enrolment into ART, issuance of a Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC) card, and initiation of treatment can only occur following confirmed positive HIV test results.
Medical History and Treatment Timeline
According to the legal team, Awino was diagnosed HIV-positive on September 14, 2023, at Ulungu Dispensary after presenting symptoms associated with infection.
A confirmatory test at Usigu Health Facility also reportedly returned a positive result, leading to her enrolment into care and initiation of ART treatment, which her lawyers say she consistently adhered to.
The matter reportedly changed in December 2024, when she underwent another HIV test at a health facility in Bondo following a televised crusade. The result allegedly came back negative.
She later underwent several additional tests at different facilities, which also reportedly returned negative results, raising concerns among health workers.
Escalation and KEMRI Testing
In 2025, the case was escalated for further medical review.
According to the petitioners, a viral load test conducted months after Awino had stopped ART reportedly showed undetectable levels.
County and national health officials, alongside the National AIDS and STI Control Programme, are said to have confirmed her treatment history and verified that she had previously been managed as an HIV-positive patient within the national healthcare system.
Further tests were later conducted at KEMRI laboratories in Kisumu in January 2026.
However, the lawyers claim the results were never formally released and that Awino was repeatedly recalled for additional sampling.
Disputed KEMRI Letter
The dispute intensified after KEMRI allegedly issued a letter dated April 20, 2026, stating that there was no evidence Awino had ever been infected with HIV.
Her lawyers argue that the conclusion contradicts Kenya’s HIV testing protocols, which require both screening and confirmatory tests before diagnosis and treatment can be initiated.
They further argue that the matter raises broader concerns regarding the integrity of HIV testing systems, public confidence in medical records, and institutional accountability.
Position of the Petitioners
Awino and Oyan maintain that they were initially diagnosed with HIV/AIDS at government facilities before later testing negative, which they attribute to miraculous healing.
The petitioners insist that health authorities must urgently clarify the conflicting findings to restore public confidence in the country’s HIV testing and treatment systems.
