NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) is set to host participants from 17 African countries for a major continental mental health leadership programme, reinforcing Kenya’s growing influence in regional health policy and training.
The two-week Africa CDC Mental Health Leadership and Advocacy Programme, organised in partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, will run from April 20 to May 1, 2026, at KMTC’s Nairobi Campus.
The training will bring together a wide range of stakeholders, including mental health professionals, policymakers, academics, and practitioners from across the continent, in a bid to strengthen leadership and advocacy capacity in mental health systems.
Officials said the programme builds on KMTC’s successful hosting of the 2025 edition, which positioned the institution as a regional hub for health capacity-building initiatives.
“This initiative aligns with our broader mandate to strengthen health systems through quality training and strategic partnerships,” said KMTC Chief Executive Officer Kelly Oluoch.
The training comes at a time when mental health is increasingly recognised as a critical component of public health in Africa, amid rising cases of mental health conditions and growing calls for stronger policy frameworks, investment, and coordination.
Participants will be drawn from countries including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Somalia, and South Sudan, among others, reflecting the programme’s continental scope.
The initiative will run alongside the World Health Summit scheduled to take place in Nairobi, further cementing Kenya’s position as a key player in global health discourse.
A public lecture is also planned as part of the programme to broaden engagement on mental health issues and policy conversations beyond the training cohort.
The official opening ceremony is expected to be presided over by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, alongside delegates from participating countries, signalling government commitment to advancing the mental health agenda.
According to Deputy Director of Academics Nyawira Mwangi, the programme is designed to equip participants with practical skills in leadership, governance, and advocacy.
Key focus areas will include mental health policy and governance, integration of mental health into primary healthcare, public health strategies, and addressing stigma and systemic barriers that hinder access to care.
The initiative also aligns with Kenya’s obligations under Article 43(1)(a) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, which guarantees the right to the highest attainable standard of health, including mental healthcare.
As governments across Africa seek to strengthen health systems, KMTC’s role in convening and training health leaders is expected to play a key part in shaping future policy and service delivery.
The programme underscores a broader shift toward collaborative, cross-border approaches in tackling public health challenges, with mental health now firmly on the continental agenda.
