Kajiado County has commissioned community-based mental health champions in a bid to spearhead grassroots awareness, reduce stigma, and strengthen community support systems.
The commissioning took place during the Kajiado Education Expo and Career Fair 2026, which brought together key stakeholders to advance a shared agenda on mental health, teenage pregnancies, and unemployment.
Speaking at the event, Kajiado County Executive Committee Member for Education, Vocational Training, Youth and Sports, Janet Sereu, said the county is establishing peer support groups both in schools and within communities to encourage open discussions about mental health.
“Whenever you encounter mental health challenges, learn to share. We want to encourage people to speak out about the problems they are facing so that they realise they are not alone and that others are going through similar experiences,” she said.
Sereu noted that 25 trained peer-to-peer champions have already been deployed to grassroots levels across the county to help address mental health challenges within communities.
She added that students will benefit from mental wellness clubs in schools, where they will gain a deeper understanding of mental health and work towards reducing stigma.
“The clubs will serve as safe havens free from stigma or shame. They will teach students emotional literacy and help them understand that it is okay not to be okay, while equipping them with tools to cope with academic pressure, adolescence, and other challenges,” said Sereu.
Out-of-school youth will also be engaged through mentorship programmes focusing on mental health, unemployment, and teenage pregnancies, which remain prevalent in Kajiado County.
Kajiado County Director of Education, Dr. Martin Cheruiyot, noted that mental health challenges and negative perceptions significantly contribute to poor academic performance among learners.
“Many learners believe subjects like mathematics are inherently difficult, which is often just a perception. If addressed through mental health support, learners can improve their performance,” he said.
By Diana Meneto
