Nairobi County has launched a five-year mental health strategy aiming to curb rising suicide rates and widen access to care, especially in informal settlements. The plan will cost Ksh 5.3 billion and run from 2025 to 2030.
The strategy, themed From Policy to Action, was unveiled by the county’s health department and is built on five pillars: leadership and governance, culturally sensitive awareness, integration into primary care, infrastructure development, and stronger data systems for monitoring and research.
With over half of Nairobi’s population living in informal settlements, about 2.9 million people, access to mental health services remains limited. Suicide cases in the county have been rising, with men accounting for the majority of reported deaths. Officials link this to economic hardship, untreated conditions, and cultural stigma.
Stella Waruingi, head of mental health and psychosocial support services, said the plan will take a multi-sector approach, involving community participation and sustained financial commitment.
A key target of the plan is to screen and treat 100,000 people with mental, neurological, and substance use disorders by 2030, up from 10,000 in 2022. It also includes scaling up to 65 primary-level facilities offering mental health services and training 1,500 healthcare workers by 2027.
The rollout faces several obstacles. These include stigma, limited funding, and a shortage of trained professionals. Waruingi emphasised that tackling these barriers will require policy action backed by resources and collaboration.
Despite the gaps, health officials noted that digital tools, partnerships with the private sector, and growing public awareness offer possible pathways for scaling up care.
