NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Health has launched the 2026 Africa Mental Health Leadership and Advocacy Programme, positioning Kenya as a regional hub for mental health training and capacity building amid rising concern over the burden of mental illness across the continent.
The programme, delivered through the Kenya Medical Training College in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, has brought together participants from 17 African countries, marking an expansion from 11 countries in the inaugural cohort last year.
According to the Ministry of Health, the two-week initiative is aimed at strengthening leadership, governance, advocacy, and research skills among mental health professionals to improve service delivery across Africa.
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni Muriuki said mental health conditions are becoming an increasingly significant public health challenge, noting that one in four patients in Kenya presents with a mental health concern.
She said the government is implementing a series of reforms to strengthen mental health systems, including the Mental Health Policy, Mental Health Action Plan, and the Mental Health (Amendment) Act, 2022, which promotes a rights-based approach to care.
The programme will focus on integrating mental health into primary healthcare, expanding community-based services, strengthening the workforce, and improving health data systems to support evidence-based decision-making.
Officials said the initiative reflects growing continental recognition of mental health as a core component of universal health coverage and sustainable development.
Speaking at the launch, stakeholders from the Africa CDC and KMTC leadership, including Board Chairperson Dr Joseah Cheruiyot and CEO Dr Kelly Oluoch, underscored the importance of regional collaboration in addressing gaps in mental health financing, stigma, and access to care.
Health experts note that many African countries continue to face shortages of trained mental health professionals, limited infrastructure, and inadequate integration of services into primary healthcare systems.
As demand for services rises, Kenya’s leadership in hosting the programme is expected to strengthen regional cooperation and accelerate reforms aimed at improving access to mental health care across the continent.
