Our Work

Our work focuses on preventing mental health harm, protecting rights, and strengthening systems that support dignity, care, and access to justice. We work across courts, communities, policy spaces, and public awareness platforms to address mental health challenges before they become crises. Below are some of our notable areas of work so far.

Suicide Decriminalization

In January 2025, CAPMHK was the Fourth Interested Party in the High Court case that led to the decriminalization of attempted suicide in Kenya. The Court found that criminalizing suicide attempts violates the right to health. Public awareness around the case reached over two million people through community radio, television, and social media.

Awareness and Prevention

We partnered with the Ministry of Health, the Kenya Defence Forces, and other stakeholders to mark World Oral Health Day under the theme “A happy mouth is a happy mind.” We promoted preventive mental health through radio and social media campaigns in 2025.

Justice System Engagement

CAPMHK has worked closely with the judiciary to improve access to justice for persons with mental illness. This includes participating as a panelist at the 2024 Kenya Judiciary High Court Summit and conducting a workshop on mental and legal capacity for the Milimani High Court Family Division Court Users Committee.

Law and Policy Reform

We contributed to key national laws and policy processes, including the Mental Health Amendment Act 2022, the Correctional Services Bill 2024, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Policy Review 2024. We focused on rights-based and people-centred approaches.

National and Global Accountability

We contributed to Kenya’s Universal Periodic Review and the SDG Voluntary National Review, ensuring our inputs on mental health and access to justice were annexed to official government reports and formally recorded in national and international accountability processes in 2024 and 2025.

Community-based Mental Health Support

We provided psychosocial support in correctional facilities including Machakos Main Prison and Kamiti Youth Correctional Training Centre. We also led community awareness initiatives, including the maternal mental health campaign through the Aberdare Ranges in 2021 and other outreach in 2023.