In the recent past, statistics by the WHO ranked Kenya on place eight (4.4%) in the international comparison of countries with the highest number of people (1,952,981) with depression (World Health Organization, 2017a). However, regional studies reveal that 19% to 25% of patients attending primary care settings or seeking care from community health providers, such as traditional healers, faith healers, and community health workers have depression (Musyimi et al., 2018; Musyimi et al., 2017; Mutiso et al., 2018).

References:

Musyimi, C. W., Mutiso, V. N., Haji, Z. R., Nandoya, E. S., & Ndetei, D. M. (2018). Mobile Based mhGAP-IG Depression Screening in Kenya. Community Mental Health Journal, 54(1), 84–91. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0072-9

Musyimi, C. W., Mutiso, V. N., Musau, A. M., Matoke, L. K., & Ndetei, D. M. (2017). Prevalence and determinants of depression among patients under the care of traditional health practitioners in a Kenyan setting: policy implications. Transcultural Psychiatry, 54(3), 285–303. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363461517705590

Mutiso, V. N., Musyimi, C. W., Tomita, A., Loeffen, L., Burns, J. K., & Ndetei, D. M. (2018). Epidemiological patterns of mental disorders and stigma in a community household survey in urban slum and rural settings in Kenya. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 64(2), 120–129. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764017748180

World Health Organization. (2017a). Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders: Global Health Estimates. Geneva, Switzerland. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/254610/WHO-MSD-MER-2017.2-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y