NAIROBI, Kenya – Thousands of Kenyans living with mental illness will now access affordable treatment after the government formally integrated mental health services into the national health insurance benefits package.
The move — the first of its kind in Kenya’s history — was announced by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale during the opening of the 2nd National Mental Health Conference 2025 in Nairobi on Wednesday.
Implemented under the Taifa Care Model and the Social Health Authority (SHA), the initiative is part of the government’s efforts to make healthcare more inclusive and to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“For the first time, mental health services are now part of the national insurance benefits package, ensuring that no Kenyan has to choose between caring for their mind and feeding their family,” Duale said. “This is the true meaning of Afya Bora kwa Wakenya Wote — quality healthcare for every Kenyan, without financial hardship.”
The three-day conference, themed “Securing the Future: A Holistic Approach to Mental Health for Generations,” has brought together government officials, academics, civil society groups and development partners to chart a roadmap for a mentally healthy nation.
Duale said the inclusion of mental health coverage reflects the government’s resolve to deliver equitable, inclusive and sustainable healthcare, guided by the Mental Health Act, 2023 and the Kenya Mental Health Policy.
“These frameworks affirm mental health as a fundamental human right, guaranteeing dignity, access and protection for all Kenyans living with mental illness,” he noted.
The Cabinet Secretary added that the government has decentralised mental health services to the grassroots through 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs), trained and digitally equipped to provide early, person-centred care at the community level.
At the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Duale reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to building sustainable, inclusive systems for mental health and positioning the country as a continental leader in mental health advocacy.
He further urged collaboration among national and county governments, schools, faith leaders, civil society and the private sector to strengthen Kenya’s collective response to mental health challenges.
“Integrating mental health into our insurance system eliminates barriers to care and promotes dignity, inclusion and hope for millions of Kenyans,” Duale said.
