Homa Bay County bears the largest brunt of the HIV/Aids scourge in Kenya, a study has shown.

Out of the 1.6 million people with HIV/Aids in the country, 10 per cent or 159,970 were in Homa Bay in 2013 as were 4,629 people or 10 per cent of the national total who died of Aids-related complications.

According to the First Homa Bay Multisectoral Aids Strategic Plan (2014/2015-2018/2019), the main drivers of HIV/Aids the eight sub-counties are poverty, cultural and sexual attitude and behaviour, the fishing industry networks, lifestyle related factors, health risk behaviour and professional related issues.

Mbita Sub-County has the highest number of HIV/Aids individuals at 23 per cent.

The sub-county’s high number is attributed to the fishing industry, the study said.

Middlemen known as “jaboya” give women fish in exchange for sex.

On Tuesday last week, the National Aids Control Council took its campaign to Rusinga Island, Mbita Constituency.

It took advantage of the annual Rusinga cultural festival to offer free HIV testing and counselling.