Six in Ten Kenyan Civil Servants Struggling With Mental Health, New Report Shows

Nairobi, Kenya – Nearly 60 percent of Kenya’s public servants are grappling with mental health challenges, according to a new report released by the Public Service Directorate. The findings reveal a crisis rooted in workplace stress, financial strain, and unrealistic workloads, raising alarm over both the welfare of employees and the quality of public service delivery .

Scope of the Crisis

Esther Kinyanjui, Acting Director at the Directorate of Counselling and Wellness Services, noted that mental health concerns are now among the most common health issues in government. She cited data showing that 25 percent of all outpatient visits and half of inpatient admissions in Kenyan hospitals are linked to mental health conditions . Among public servants specifically, 59 percent report ongoing struggles.

Causes Behind the Numbers

The report identifies several drivers of poor mental health within the civil service. Some employees are overwhelmed by excessive workloads, while others suffer stress from under-utilisation, discrimination, and lack of meaningful engagement .

Women in public service face an added burden: balancing professional responsibilities with family roles, which often leaves them more vulnerable to burnout .

Implications for Service Delivery

Experts warn that unchecked mental health challenges not only diminish the personal well-being of employees but also undermine the government’s ability to deliver essential services to citizens . Declining productivity, absenteeism, and reduced motivation have been flagged as risks that could ripple across ministries and counties.

Government Response

In response, the Directorate has rolled out several workplace initiatives, including the creation of mental health champions within offices. These individuals are trained to identify colleagues in distress, provide immediate support, and connect them with professional services .

Kinyanjui stressed the need for a holistic approach to mental health—one that accounts for genetic predispositions, environmental pressures, and wider societal factors. She urged government departments to take employee wellness as seriously as core service delivery .

The Road Ahead

Despite these efforts, the report makes clear that more needs to be done. It calls for increased funding, stronger policies, and deliberate steps to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health. Recommendations include balancing workloads, offering accessible counselling services, and fostering workplaces where staff feel safe to seek help.