Mental health experts are urging the Kenyan government to appoint full-time professional counsellors in all political offices across the country, warning that leaders are operating under intense pressure without adequate psychological support.
Speaking during a mental wellness talk show organized by the Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA) Embu chapter in partnership with Kimuri Radio, senior psychologists said the absence of structured counselling services in political spaces poses a risk to national stability and governance.
“We need mentally stable, emotionally intelligent leaders to foster peace, unity, and sound governance,” said Professor Wanjiru Mugai, a senior counsellor and mental health advocate. “Right now, there are no formal structures offering professional counselling to our political leaders, and that gap poses a serious risk to national cohesion.”
The experts noted that leaders—including the president, governors, Members of Parliament (MPs), and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs)—face mounting stress, anxiety, and public scrutiny, which can impair judgment if left unmanaged. They warned that without professional support, leaders risk burnout, emotional instability, and reactive decision-making that could destabilize institutions and communities.
Fr. Joseph Isaiah Njiru, Chairman of KCPA Embu and Principal of St. Augustine Teachers Training College–Ishiara, called for the immediate institutionalization of counselling services within public offices.
“It is time the government made professional counselling a permanent feature in political and public institutions, just like legal and financial advisors,” he said. “Sober leadership cannot be achieved without mental wellness.”
Beyond political leadership, the counsellors raised alarm over a growing mental health crisis among the general population, particularly among young men, the unemployed, and workers in the informal sector.
During a recent suicide awareness event in Kanja, Runyenjes Constituency, 800 widows reported that their husbands had died by suicide within the last two years—many of them middle-aged men working in the bodaboda sector.
“This is not just a crisis—it’s a national emergency,” Prof. Mugai said. “We are seeing a surge in suicide cases, especially among educated and economically strained men. Without urgent intervention, our health systems will be overwhelmed in five years.”
In response, the KCPA Embu chapter has rolled out grassroots initiatives aimed at addressing the crisis. These include community mental health talks, awareness walks, and the formation of apolitical elders’ groups to mentor young people on emotional resilience, education, and economic empowerment.
Counsellor Margret Nyaga emphasized the need for stronger family structures, urging couples to communicate openly and share responsibilities to reduce domestic strain. Cristabel Gicuku, another counsellor, encouraged young people to resist peer pressure, embrace self-awareness, and set realistic life goals.
The experts also called for reforms in the education sector, advocating for the deployment of full-time guidance counsellors in schools. They noted that many teachers currently handling counselling responsibilities are overstretched, limiting their effectiveness in addressing students’ psychological needs.
Additionally, the team urged communities to revive traditional mentorship systems, where older generations guide younger ones—an approach they said previously helped build emotionally resilient societies.
The counsellors warned that failure to address mental health challenges—exacerbated by economic hardship, corruption, and political pressure—could lead to a sharp rise in mental illness, with far-reaching consequences for governance, productivity, and public safety.
As Kenya marks Mental Wellness Month, KCPA Embu reiterated its call for mental health to be treated as a national priority rather than a private concern.
“We must start with the experts,” Prof. Mugai said. “Only professional, full-time counsellors can deliver the consistent, confidential support our leaders—and our country—desperately need.”