By:Robert Wafula Mutasi
A Kenyan doctor has moved to Parliament seeking to have irreversible erectile dysfunction (ED) officially classified as a disability, sparking a fresh national debate on men’s health, stigma, and access to treatment.
Dr. Benson Kibore, who was speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s Wednesday Morning Show, said he has filed a petition asking lawmakers to amend the Persons with Disability Act 2025 and the regulations under the Social Health Act 2023 to include severe and permanent erectile dysfunction.
According to Dr. Kibore, the proposal is not about convenience but about dignity and health equity. He argues that like physical injuries that limit function, irreversible ED limits a core physiological function and carries profound psychological and social consequences.
“This is a condition we have swept under the carpet for too long. We need to give it the same seriousness we give to other medical conditions and reduce the shame around it,” he said.
Dr. Kibore described ED as a hidden crisis in Kenya. He cited estimates that about 10 percent of young men in Nairobi experience the condition, with the figure rising to as high as 46 percent among middle-aged and elderly men globally. Despite the numbers, he said most men suffer in silence due to cultural stigma.
The medic emphasized that the impact goes far beyond sexual function. He noted that men living with ED often struggle with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, reduced productivity at work, and conflict within marriages. In some cases, the condition contributes to family breakups and long-term mental health challenges.
A central plank of his petition is access to care. Currently, many men bypass hospitals and buy unregulated performance-enhancing drugs from chemists and street vendors, exposing themselves to dangerous side effects and drug interactions. If ED is recognized under disability and health insurance frameworks, patients would be entitled to professional assessment, counseling, diagnosis of root causes, and evidence-based treatment through government insurance.
Dr. Kibore stressed that erectile dysfunction is often a sentinel marker for more serious non-communicable diseases. Persistent ED can be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, hormonal disorders, and psychological stress. A government-funded assessment pathway, he argues, would therefore save lives by detecting these underlying conditions early.
“We are not just talking about what happens in the bedroom. A man who cannot sustain function may be having blocked blood vessels or uncontrolled blood sugar. If we ignore it, we miss a chance to diagnose a heart condition,” he explained.
The petition also calls for a comprehensive National Sexual Health Policy to provide a framework for education, prevention, treatment, and support services. Dr. Kibore said Kenya needs open dialogue that treats men’s sexual health with the same priority as maternal health and other public health issues.
If Parliament admits the petition, it will be subjected to public participation before any amendments are considered.
