PSC Commissioner Boya Mulu says that the government has strengthened counselling services. [File, Standard]
Mental health remains one of the biggest challenges facing Kenya's public service, with the Public Service Commission (PSC) citing depression, substance abuse, domestic conflicts and financial difficulties as the issues affecting the well-being of civil servants.
The commission said the growing mental health burden has not only affected employees but has also had a direct impact on service delivery across government institutions.
PSC noted that uniformed officers remain among the most affected, with an increase in suicide-related deaths and murder-suicide cases raising concern.
Firearms, on the other hand, have been the most commonly used method in cases involving security officers, while other civil servants have reportedly taken their lives using ropes and pesticides.
Speaking during an engagement with directors of human resource management from various government departments at Lake Naivasha Resort, PSC Commissioner Boya Mulu acknowledged the rise in mental health cases among public servants.