Kenya’s mental health sector presents a striking paradox: despite the growing recognition of mental health challenges and an increasing demand for psychological services, psychology graduates continue to face significant unemployment and underemployment. This contradiction is rooted in deep-seated structural issues that systematically undermine the profession, making it difficult for trained psychologists to secure stable, well-paying jobs. One of the primary factors contributing to this crisis is the severe lack of job opportunities within both the public and private sectors. Many organizations, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and educational institutions, employ only a minimal number of psychologists, often restricting these roles to one or two individuals per institution. This results in a highly competitive job market where only the most experienced professionals stand a chance of securing employment, leaving recent graduates with limited options. Additionally, the financial sustainability of private practice is severely threatened by the prevalence of free or low-cost counseling services offered by religious institutions, non-governmental organizations, and community-based groups. While these services play a crucial role in expanding access to mental healthcare, they inadvertently undermine the ability of qualified psychologists to establish viable independent practices. Consequently, many graduates are unable to leverage their expertise in the field, often resorting to working in unrelated sectors, taking on temporary and poorly remunerated jobs, or abandoning the profession altogether despite their years of specialized training.

A major challenge compounding this issue is the lack of a structured and regulated career pathway for psychology graduates, which creates uncertainty for both practitioners and potential employers. Unlike other fields such as medicine, law, or engineering, where licensing and professional development are clearly defined, psychology remains a largely unstructured profession in Kenya. The absence of standardized guidelines for internships, supervised practice, and professional accreditation means that many graduates complete their studies without the practical experience necessary to meet employer expectations. This situation is further exacerbated by the commercialization of mental health services, where some institutions prioritize financial gain over the provision of quality care. This business-oriented approach has led to exploitative employment conditions, where psychologists are often hired on short-term contracts with little job security, minimal benefits, and unrealistic workloads. Furthermore, some rehabilitation centers and private institutions reportedly prefer hiring new graduates on temporary terms rather than renewing contracts with existing employees, ostensibly as a cost-cutting measure to avoid higher salary commitments. These systemic challenges not only create instability within the profession but also discourage qualified individuals from remaining in the field, ultimately reducing the availability of experienced professionals in the country’s mental health workforce. As a result, Kenya continues to experience a significant gap between the increasing need for psychological services and the limited number of trained professionals who can afford to remain in practice under these conditions.

Addressing these issues requires comprehensive structural reforms aimed at professionalizing the psychology field and integrating it more effectively into Kenya’s healthcare and social support systems. First, policymakers must acknowledge the critical role of psychology in national development and mental well-being by increasing investment in mental health services, expanding employment opportunities within public institutions, and ensuring that psychologists are recognized as essential healthcare providers. Universities should also play a more active role in bridging the gap between academic training and practical application by incorporating robust internship programs, mentorship opportunities, and entrepreneurial training to equip graduates with the necessary skills to navigate the job market. Additionally, regulatory bodies should establish a standardized licensing framework to ensure that all psychology professionals meet clear competency standards while also receiving fair remuneration and workplace protections. By implementing these reforms, Kenya can begin to address the persistent challenges facing psychology graduates, ensuring that their skills and expertise are fully utilized to meet the country’s growing mental health needs. Failure to take action will not only continue to render psychology graduates underemployed but will also undermine the long-term development of the mental health sector, leaving thousands of Kenyans without access to qualified psychological care at a time when it is needed more than ever.

References:

Nation Psychology graduates struggle to get jobs in Kenya

Nation THE SILENT SCREAM OF KENYA’S PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATES

The Star Tales of despair for Kenyan graduates seeking jobs

Johnson & Johnson Building health worker capacity to close the mental healthcare gap across Kenya