Heraf Kenya

08/10/2026

For many people living with mental health conditions, support can remain out of reach simply because they may not know what they are entitled to or how to access it.

As part of the commemoration, Heraf Kenya and the 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 facilitated a one-stop disability assessment and registration exercise at 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝘂 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝟱 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹, 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁
The exercise combined disability assessment and NCPWD registration, and referred those without national IDs to the National Registration Bureau to help them access identification documents.

By bringing these services closer to people, the activity helped turn awareness into access while advancing the integration of mental health into primary healthcare systems in Embu County.

Because strengthening mental health systems also means ensuring people are recognised, included and connected to the support and services they are entitled to.

05/10/2026

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗺𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆!

For Heraf Kenya, this was more than a conference. It was an opportunity to bring our community-level experiences, evidence, and advocacy into a broader conversation on building mental health systems that are inclusive, responsive, and grounded in human rights.

We are grateful to Tinada Youth Action Africa for the opportunity to work together in bringing this important regional platform to life and for creating space for diverse voices to shape the mental health agenda.

Our team made several contributions throughout the conference:

🎤 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗮, Advocacy and Communications Lead, presented our work on “Strengthening Community Mental Health Systems Through Integrated Primary Healthcare, Community Engagement, and Digital Innovation,” sharing practical lessons from our work to strengthen mental health integration at the community and primary healthcare levels.

🗣️ Munene Edward, Executive Director, contributed to critical discussions on mental health financing and accountability, emphasising the need for health systems that are responsive to the people and communities they serve.

🤝 At the Heraf Kenya exhibition booth, led by Paul Gatitu, Programmes Assistant, we engaged participants in meaningful conversations and knowledge exchange around social accountability, lived experience, community participation, and rights-based mental health care. The booth provided an opportunity to share our work, learn from others, and connect our grassroots experience with the wider regional mental health movement.

One message came through strongly: persons with lived experience and caregivers must be at the centre of conversations about the mental health services and systems that affect their lives.

Their voices are not supplementary. They provide critical insights into what is working, what is missing, and what needs to change.

We are grateful to everyone who visited our booth, participated in our sessions, shared their experiences, challenged our thinking and strengthened the conversation.

From communities to policy spaces, we will continue advocating for mental health systems that uphold rights, dignity, inclusion, equity and accountability.

The conversation continues. The advocacy continues. The work continues. 💚


Tinada Youth Action Africa ICON Data and Learning Labs (IDL) | Blue Cross Kenya | Physicians for Human Rights | The Ministry of Health | County Government of Kisumu | Matibabu Foundation Hospital | Dream Achievers Youth Organization | Global Disability Inclusion | Comic Relief

05/10/2026

During his abstract presentation on 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 at , Heraf Kenya Advocacy & Communications Lead, Victor Odira highlighted why lived experience must be central to service design, noting that the voices of people with lived experience & caregivers are foundational to truly person-centred, recovery-oriented care
Tinada Youth Action Africa

05/10/2026

In his keynote speech at , HERAF Executive Director Munene Edward called for financing that goes beyond investment, with transparency, accountability and measurable results to ensure resources translate into accessible, quality care for communities.

Tinada Youth Action Africa

19/09/2026

Heraf Kenya, in partnership with the County Government, brought health workers together for onboarding on the TaifaCare platform to strengthen mental health service delivery.
The practical onboarding focused on building health workers’ capacity to use digital tools in their day-to-day work, including electronic medical records for service delivery, documentation, and reporting.
The engagement also included presentations on mental health data, examining the current status, reporting gaps, and opportunities to strengthen the integration of mental health into Primary Health Care. Discussions highlighted the importance of accurate data for planning and budgeting, as well as strengthening referral pathways between communities and health facilities.
Participants shared their perspectives and deliberated on practical ways forward to address the gaps identified.
Through this partnership, Heraf Kenya continues to support efforts to build a more responsive, equitable, and people-centred health system.
Learn more about HERAF’s work: https://heraf.or.ke/

15/09/2026

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲: 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀

Heraf Kenya joined partners and the Nairobi County Government** in marking World Su***de Prevention Day in Nairobi under the theme “𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲.”

The event brought together stakeholders and community members for a solidarity walk and conversations aimed at challenging stigma, encouraging open discussions on su***de and mental health, and reminding us that prevention requires collective action.

Changing the narrative means moving beyond silence, stigma, and judgement. It means creating spaces where people can speak about their struggles, seek help early, and receive the support they need without fear.

At Heraf Kenya, we believe that advancing mental health also requires strengthening the voices of communities and promoting responsive, accessible, and rights-based mental health services.

Let us keep the conversation going. Let us listen, speak up, and act.

***dePreventionDay ***dePrevention

10/09/2026

Creating Hope Through Action: Su***de Prevention in Kenya

World Su***de Prevention Day commemorated every 10th September is a critical reminder of the growing mental health challenge facing our nation. In Kenya, an estimated 4 persons per day die by su***de and a majority of them are young people aged 15 – 29 years.

This year’s theme, Changing the narrative on su***de; Creating hope through action!
What is Kenya’s current scenario;
🔸 Access to care remains scarce
🔸 Stigma continues to silence those in need
🔸The systems meant to protect the most vulnerable are overstretched.

How do we change this Narrative❓
✔️ An urgent collective action to strengthen community-based support
✔️ Expand mental health services across counties
✔️Shift the narrative from silence to hope.

🟠 Addressing this challenge is not only about preventing loss, but about affirming that mental health is a right and ensuring the resilience of Kenya’s future generations.

On this World Su***de Prevention Day we are called to:

✔️ Listen without judgment
✔️Check in on our friends and colleagues
✔️Challenge stigma in our homes, schools, and workplaces.

🟠This is not just about statistics but it is about safeguarding lives, nurturing resilience, and affirming that mental health is a right, not a privilege. Every conversation matter, and every act of compassion can create hope.
Health Financing Advocacy CoalitionMHFAC
Relief
***dePreventionDay

***de

***dePrevention

08/09/2026

Should Young People Pay for Today’s Debt ❓ ❓

Kenya’s growing public debt is not just a government issue; it is the future of the young people in Kenya being committed today. The loans taken now will be repaid by today’s young people through future taxes and reduced fiscal space for healthcare, education, jobs, and other opportunities. If the young people in Kenya are the generation expected to pay, then the young people in Kenya must be involved in the decisions to borrow. The young people in Kenya have a right to know why the country is borrowing, how much is being borrowed, where the money will go, who will benefit, and what value it will create. The government cannot make borrowing decisions today and hand the bill to young people tomorrow.

The young people in Kenya refuse to pay for debt they had no voice in creating and projects whose value they cannot see. Public participation must happen before loans are contracted, with full transparency on their purpose, cost, use, and expected return on investment. Young people must speak up, participate in public finance decisions, and demand accountability from leaders. The message is not that Kenya should never borrow; but if they are going to pay for it, they must have a say in it, they must see the value, and it must build a better future for them. The future of the young people in Kenya should not be used as collateral without their voice. If the debt is theirs to repay, then the decision must be theirs to question, and regular youth public debt forums should be established to give young people in Kenya a direct platform to scrutinize proposed borrowing, question leaders, and participate in decisions before loans are contracted.

07/09/2026

From struggle to strength: How Lorenzo, a Gen Z overcame mental health challenges

When Lorenzo Ambiyo, a campus student back in 2019, started hearing imaginary voices from unknown sources pushing him to carry out harmful activities, it was unknown to him that it was the beginni…

05/09/2026

HOW CHPS ARE TRANSFORMING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN NAIROBI COUNTY

Access to community based mental health services is transforming everyday health outcomes in Makadara Sub County, Nairobi County as a result of awareness, advocacy and capacity building initiatives led by the Health Rights Advocacy Forum (HERAF). To embed mental health into Primary Health Care (PHC), HERAF trained Community Health Promoters (CHPs) using the WHO Quality Rights and Problem Management Plus (PM+) initiatives, and equipped them with tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ 9). These tools, knowledge and skills enabled CHPs to screen for mental health during household visits, counsel and refer for specialised treatment. In addition, they facilitated peer support groups sessions, and combated discrimination, abuse and negative social attitudes towards persons with mental health conditions and their families. Through these actions, they bridged long standing gaps in community based care, by ensuring individuals experiencing mental health conditions are recognized early within their own community health units and supported to seek for care.
Data from the Sub - County Health Management Team revealed that as at July 2026, the 270 trained CHPs by HERAF, LVCT and other CSOs had reached 7,117 people with mental health messages on prevention, treatment, and management, referred 192 new clients for examinations at health facilities, and supported 77 clients to revisit facilities for follow up and medication consistency. They also engaged in over 800-unit interactions and facilitated 620 community dialogues, including informal sessions with matatu and boda riders. These achievements demonstrate how systematic advocacy, capacity strengthening and grassroots engagement are normalizing mental health conversations, reducing stigma, and strengthening continuity of care. However, to sustain this transformation in mental health, there is need to scale up the trainings of all CHPs in each of the 17 sub counties in Nairobi County.