PS Muthoni vouches for unified approach to tackle mental health issues
By Faith Lagat, July 1, 2025Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni has called for concerted efforts in addressing mental health issues in the country.
PS Muthoni rallied for this collaboration during a consultative meeting with the Kenya Red Cross Society at Afya House on Tuesday, July 1, 2025
The session aimed to explore strategic partnerships to strengthen Kenya’s health system, with particular emphasis on community-level interventions.
Mental health took centre stage in the discussions, with PS Muthoni issuing a strong call to action. She emphasised the growing psychological toll brought on by recent crises and advocated for a national push to address mental wellness as an integral part of health.
The PS further advocated for a joint working framework to promote early disease detection and prevention measures.
“I advocate for advancing mental health services, epidemic preparedness and response, enhancing community-based surveillance and early warning systems, and improving the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs),” she posed.
Sharing data
The ministry and the Kenya Red Cross agreed to focus on shared data systems and joint capacity-building to equip frontline personnel with both emergency and mental health response skills.
The meeting came at a critical time, as the country continues to face rising health challenges.
Against this backdrop, the talks zeroed in on epidemic preparedness, improved community surveillance, mental health support, and the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Muthoni underscored the need for harmonised efforts across stakeholders to ensure long-term impact. “We must consolidate our actions to deliver measurable outcomes, foster resilient communities, and ensure no one is left behind,” she said, calling for a unified approach that boosts visibility and sustainability in health programming.
She highlighted glaring gaps in emergency preparedness and the need for a more coordinated response. As such, the meeting also emphasised strengthening disaster response training and embedding community health promoters at the grassroots level.
The collaboration will also support Kenya’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Looking ahead, the ministry and the Kenya Red Cross pledged to deepen their partnership through joint emergency preparedness plans, bolstered early warning systems, and enhanced community surveillance.
PS Muthoni’s leadership signals a renewed commitment to building a resilient, inclusive health system where every Kenyan, regardless of location, has access to timely and holistic care.