As more Kenyans emigrate abroad in pursuit of employment, education, and business opportunities, concerns are growing over the immense mental health challenges those adjusting to life away from home are grappling with.
According to the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, over four million Kenyans are estimated to be living and working overseas. Their contribution to the national economy continues to grow, with diaspora remittances now exceeding Sh650 billion annually, making them one of Kenya’s largest sources of foreign exchange.
While migration offers economic opportunities, experts say it also presents unique social adaptation predicaments, including mental health challenges.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), migrants are often at increased risk of mental health conditions due to factors such as family separation, loneliness, social exclusion, discrimination, employment pressures, and difficulties adapting to new environments.
As the country marks the Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month this June, Kenya News Agency spoke to a Kenyan mental health advocate based in the United Kingdom (UK), who says many Kenyan men in the diaspora are silently battling emotional and psychological struggles.
Baraza Namunyu, popularly known as Balozi Baraza, says financial responsibilities, social isolation, and cultural expectations often place immense pressure on Kenyan men living abroad.
As a diaspora community champion who has lived in the UK for more than a decade, Baraza admits the pressure to appear successful often comes at a high cost to men’s mental well-being.
“Many men carry the weight of supporting families both in the UK and back home while simultaneously trying to establish themselves in a new country. There is often an unspoken expectation to be strong, resilient, and financially dependable regardless of personal circumstances,” he explains.
Inevitably, this breeds loneliness, which has become one of the most significant challenges facing Kenyan men abroad.
“Many men leave behind extended family networks, lifelong friendships, and familiar cultural environments. The resulting social isolation can contribute to anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion,” he adds.
In addition, identity struggles often arise as men attempt to reconcile the cultural values they grew up with in Kenya and the realities of living in a multicultural society. Despite these challenges, many men continue to suffer in silence.
Baraza attributes this largely to cultural expectations surrounding masculinity, which often discourage men from openly discussing their emotional struggles.
“Many Kenyan men cope privately rather than openly. Some immerse themselves in work, education, business ventures, church activities, or community responsibilities as a way of managing emotional distress,” he discloses.
Others, he noted, seek support through trusted friends, family members, and faith leaders. Most times, unresolved mental health struggles can manifest through burnout, relationship difficulties, substance abuse, withdrawal, and declining physical health.
The UK offers a range of mental health support services, including counseling, talking therapies, crisis support, and specialist care through the National Health Service (NHS). In many cases, these services are available free of charge to eligible residents.
Baraza, however, says accessibility alone does not guarantee utilization.
“For some people, immigration status may affect access to certain services. For others, it is the stigma associated with discussing mental health that remains the biggest barrier,” he says.
Beyond government services, community organizations, charities, churches, and peer-support groups are increasingly providing culturally sensitive mental health support for migrant communities.
As a mental health champion, Baraza says his work centers on creating safe spaces where men can have honest conversations without fear of judgment.
Through community forums, mentoring sessions, storytelling, and reflective discussions, he encourages men to openly discuss issues affecting their lives, including work-related stress, parenting, relationships, and personal growth.
“I have found that men are more likely to seek help when they realize they are not alone and when mental health is framed as part of personal development rather than a sign of crisis,” he adds.
Balozi Baraza believes simple conversations can often become the first step toward healing.
“The most effective conversations are often the simplest ones, those that remind men they do not have to carry every burden alone.”
As Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month is observed this June, Baraza is urging men both in Kenya and abroad to prioritize their well-being and reject the notion that suffering in silence is a sign of strength.
“A healthy man is not one who never struggles; he recognizes when support is needed and is willing to seek it. Mental health is not just about surviving life; it is about living it fully and purposefully,” he concludes.
By Rose Muthoni
