The government has been advised to to allocate at least five per cent of its healthcare budget on mental health.
This has been said by Dr Catherine Mutisya, the head of substance abuse and management in the Health ministry.
Dr Mutisya revealed that the government only allocates 0.1 per cent of the budget to mental health which is quite little for the mental health department.
This comes following complaints that Kenya has fewer psychiatrists.
The Ministry of Health has decried the shortage of the specialists saying there's need to invest in more.
However, Dr Mutisya says the country needs 4,000 psychiatrists, 5,000 psychologists and 6,000 psychiatrist nurses.
She spoke during the launch of the country’s first mental health policy attended by Health CS Cleopa Mailu.
Mailu further revealed that at least one person in every four Kenyans suffers from a mental disorder but he cannot tell easily.
He said the numbers are quite alarming and the government should employ more psychiatric nurses to look after the people.
The CS promised that his ministry will look into ways of improving the situation, adding that many mental patients are not reacting well to the present drugs.
He said he will ensure patients are better drugs.