Association raises alarm over acute shortage of psychiatrists

KPA president Dr Mercy Karanja said on Wednesday the country has only 150 psychiatrists serving a population of more than 50 million people, meaning each specialist caters to over half a million people.
“We do not have adequate healthcare workers to meet the needs of mental health patients. There is a significant gap in our health institutions,” she said.

The country is facing a shortage of mental health workers, even as the number of patients continue to rise, the Kenya Psychiatric Association has warned.

KPA president Dr Mercy Karanja said on Wednesday the country has only 150 psychiatrists serving a population of more than 50 million people, meaning each specialist caters to over half a million people.

“We do not have adequate healthcare workers to meet the needs of mental health patients. There is a significant gap in our health institutions,” she said.

She said one in four Kenyans is likely to experience mental illness at some point in their lives, while 40 per cent of patients seeking care for other conditions also suffer from mental health challenges.

“It is very unfortunate that despite the high prevalence, only 20 per cent of patients can access mental health services. The majority cannot get the care they deserve,” Karanja said.

She spoke in Eldoret during the 17th Annual Scientific Conference of the association, running from September 3–5, which has placed special focus on community mental health in the 21st century.

“As a professional body, this year’s conference is examining innovation, integration and impact within our communities when it comes to interventions for mental health,” Karanja said.

She emphasised the need for community-based interventions focusing on prevention, wellness promotion, integration and care for treated patients.

As part of the community involvement, participants visited the Dr Edith Kwoba Nawiri Rehabilitation Centre at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), which supports patients with mental health challenges.

Dr Kwoba, who died last year, was also honoured with a memorial walk through Eldoret streets.

“We have also engaged the local community, reminding them that there is no health without mental health. We have talked about stigma and raised awareness that mental illness is like any other condition and can be treated,” Karanja added.

“They should be treated with compassion, care, dignity and love. Hospital care is important, but reintegration into society is key for them to resume productive lives,” she said.

KPA secretary Dr Linda Nyamute and MTRH chief executive officer Dr Philip Kiowa were present.

Kiowa said the hospital continues to handle acute and chronic cases, with some patients remaining in wards for more than 10 years. He said rehabilitation and integration are central to MTRH’s work, with three rehabilitation centres currently in operation.

Dr Karanja concluded that mental health remains one of the most pressing medical challenges in the country.

“Our message is clear: community mental health is the pathway to improving wellness for our generation and our nation. We must invest in interventions, reduce stigma and raise awareness,” she said.

Kenya’s acute shortage of psychiatrists underscores a looming mental health crisis.

With only 150 specialists serving more than 50 million people, the system is severely overstretched, leaving the majority of patients without care.

The Kenya Psychiatric Association’s warning reflects not just a workforce gap but also systemic neglect of mental health, despite rising prevalence.

Community-based interventions, as emphasised at the Eldoret conference, may offer a practical solution by reducing stigma and integrating patients back into society.

However, without urgent investment in training, recruitment, and infrastructure, Kenya risks deepening the crisis, leaving millions vulnerable and straining already fragile health systems.