It is shocking to hear that in these time and age, many young people are still reluctant to use condoms.

This attitude, without a doubt, partly explains the sharp rise in number of infections among the young people in Kenya.

According to the National Aids Control Council, two in every five new HIV infections are among youths aged between 15-24 years. That is a serious setback at a time when the country has made remarkable progress in the war against HIV/Aids.

That said, it is not hard to tell where we lost direction. Unlike in the previous years when the HIV prevention campaign was in top gear in health facilities, in the media, places of worship and other institutions, young people today have, by and large, been left to their own devices.

There are no concrete efforts to raise awareness among the youths about (irresponsible) sex and the dangers that comes with it.

Considering that it is taboo to discuss sex with children in most of the African cultures, the young ones are left to their own devices in so far as the subject is concerned. The only teacher available is the Internet in the form of odious content such as pornography.

The result has been an upsurge in cases of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies.

We need to go back to the drawing board in order save young people from the danger that confronts them.

The government and stakeholders in health and other sectors should join hands and reinvigorate the HIV awareness raising campaigns, specifically among our young people.

Sex education should be taught both in school and at home. Adolescents and young people who cannot abstain should be educated about the dangers that lurk in the shadows and be advised to always use condoms.

We cannot afford to continue burying our heads in the sand while our children are busy playing with fire.