![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8db495ef-6b64-43f9-9d49-0bb61b36fc8d.jpg\")
Therapy session – PEXELSAt 42,
\nSamuel Boiyo has walked a path few understand.<\/p>\n
Therapy session – PEXELSAt 42,
\nSamuel Boiyo has walked a path few understand.<\/p>\n
Diagnosed
\nwith bipolar disorder at 21, he has spent nearly two decades navigating a life
\npunctuated by extremes, from euphoric highs that lift him to unimagined
\nheights, to crushing lows that leave him incapacitated.<\/p>\n
His story is
\none of endurance, resilience and the quiet battle of millions living with
\nmental illness in Kenya.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have lived
\nwith bipolar for over 20 years,\u201d Boiyo begins, his voice steady but laced with
\nexhaustion.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt began
\nwith a manic episode during my final year in college. When the episode was
\nover, I had \u2018donated\u2019 my possessions. I was left confused and depressed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The condition
\nhas been very tough on him and his family, and very costly.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery coin
\nI earned went into medication. Sometimes I could not even develop myself
\nfinancially because the medicine is expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n
His journey
\nis echoed by many Kenyans living with the condition, including 24-year-old Patience Kyalo, who was diagnosed with
\nbipolar disorder in 2024.<\/p>\n
Together,
\ntheir stories paint a vivid picture of what it means to live between highs and
\nlows, to fight stigma and to seek dignity in a society still grappling with the
\nrealities of mental health.<\/p>\n
WEIGHT OF DIAGNOSIS<\/b><\/p>\n
For Samuel
\nBoiyo, the first challenge was understanding the illness itself. In the early
\n2000s, mental health was widely misunderstood in Kenya.<\/p>\n
Depression
\nand mania were often explained away as curses, witchcraft or spiritual
\npossession.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my
\nvillage, people didn\u2019t know about intervention,\u201d he recalls.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven when I
\nwas sent to prison, they said I could have stolen someone\u2019s possessions and
\nthey did some juju to me. Or that I had been bewitched.\u201d<\/p>\n
Samuel
\nwas arrested a few months after arriving in Nairobi, where he ran his jewellery
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n
It was
\nduring what would have been a normal day at the CBD when he got an attack. He
\nwent to sit down, having confused another trader\u2019s stall with his, when he was
\naccused of intention to steal.<\/p>\n
The
\npublic landed on him, despite pleas, only to be rescued by police, who took him
\nto Industrial Area, Nairobi Remand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn
\nprison, they said I must have been bewitched. Even some officers mocked me,
\nsaying I was pretending. At times they beat me for the fun of it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the
\ntruth is, without medication, my brain was not stable. I was a danger to
\nmyself, not to others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Confusion,
\nstigma and fear defined those early years. Relatives whispered. Neighbours
\navoided him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMental illness isolates you, even from your own
\nfamily,\u201d he says solemnly.<\/p>\n
In moments
\nof mania, when his energy surged, he was dismissed as \u201cpossessed\u201d.<\/p>\n
During
\ndepressive episodes, when he would lock himself away for weeks, people assumed
\nhe was lazy or bewitched.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took
\neducation and persistence before I realised bipolar disorder is a medical
\ncondition,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally, I
\ncame to see it as a medical case. I had to take my medication and listen to the
\ndoctors at Mathari Teaching and Training Referral Hospital. That education
\nhelped me start improving.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Patience Kyalo, the journey to
\ndiagnosis came two decades later but with similar confusion.<\/p>\n
In 2023, she
\nbegan experiencing dramatic mood swings. Some days, she would feel invincible,
\nstaying up all night studying and planning projects. Other times, she could not
\nget out of bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt first I
\nthought I was just stressed,\u201d she recalls. \u201cBut then the patterns became too
\nobvious. My family noticed I was either too high or too low. There was no
\nin-between.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was only
\nafter she sought psychiatric help in Nairobi that she received a diagnosis of
\nbipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
\u201cHearing the
\ndoctor say it was bipolar felt like a relief but also a weight. Mostly though,
\nit was like being handed a death sentence,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally,
\nthere was an explanation. But I also knew it was not something that would just
\ngo away.\u201d<\/p>\n
COST OF
\nSURVIVAL<\/b><\/p>\n
Both Samuel
\nand Patience quickly discovered that managing bipolar disorder comes with
\nfinancial strain.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe
\nfirst-generation drugs were cheap but had so many side effects. I was always
\ndrowsy and weak,\u201d Samuel says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe
\nnewer ones are better, but they cost me more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Samuel
\nspends nearly Sh10,000 a month
\non medication alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cTreating
\nmental illness is not like malaria or something simple,\u201d he says. \u201cYou borrow,
\nyou are given, and many people miss medication because of cost. It is a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
He
\nexplains that missing medication is not an option due to the risk of relapse.<\/p>\n
For
\nPatience, the financial challenge is compounded by therapy sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI take mood
\nstabilisers, and I also go for psychotherapy.<\/p>\n
Each session
\ncosts about Sh3,000, and you need it regularly. Sometimes I skip sessions because
\nI just don\u2019t have the money.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both
\nhighlight the gaps in Kenya\u2019s health system. While the National Health
\nInsurance Fund previously supported some medication, recent policy shifts have
\nleft patients struggling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe
\ngovernment needs to create value for mental health, give medication at a good
\nprice and follow up with patients regularly,\u201d Samuel urges.<\/p>\n
Bipolar
\ndisorder is often described as a pendulum between two extremes: mania and
\ndepression.<\/p>\n
For Samuel,
\nthese swings once dictated every aspect of his life.<\/p>\n
On some
\ndays, he opens his shop only to find himself giving away goods to strangers by
\nevening.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring
\nmania, I feel overly generous, invincible,\u201d he says. \u201cBut the consequences come
\nlater.\u201d<\/p>\n
Depression,
\non the other hand, leaves him paralysed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are
\ntimes I cannot even step out of the house,\u201d he admits. \u201cEven basic things like
\nbathing, brushing my teeth or eating feel impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Relationships
\nbore the brunt. For years, he avoided visiting neighbours or relatives out of
\nfear his erratic behaviour might harm them.<\/p>\n
His marriage
\nnearly collapsed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt some
\npoint, my marriage got so close to an end. My wife left with the kids because
\nshe could not handle the highs and lows. I don\u2019t blame her,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was
\nuntil my therapist encouraged me to attend sessions with her that things stated
\ngetting better. We have been stable for the last decade. Today, she even helps
\nme monitor my medication.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patience
\nshares a similar battle. \u201cWhen I am high, I take on too much,\u201d she says. \u201cI
\nstart projects I can\u2019t finish, I talk too much, I spend recklessly. But when I
\ncrash, I feel like the world has ended. I can\u2019t answer calls. I can\u2019t face
\npeople.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her
\nfriendships have suffered. \u201cSome people think I am unreliable. They don\u2019t
\nunderstand it\u2019s the illness. I\u2019ve lost friends but I\u2019ve also gained a few who
\nare patient and supportive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Samuel and
\nPatience credit therapy for helping them regain balance.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore
\npsychotherapy, I could not come out of the house or face people. Cognitive Behavioural
\nTherapy gave me the tools to stop destructive thoughts,\u201d Samuel recalls.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, it
\nbalances me. It gives me insight into life. I accept myself, my illness and I
\nlive positively with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patience
\ndescribes therapy as a safe space.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy
\ntherapist helps me recognise my triggers,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor
\nexample, I now know lack of sleep can push me into mania. I keep a sleep
\nschedule and I write a mood journal. These small things keep me grounded.\u201d<\/p>\n
TREATMENT<\/b><\/p>\n
Dr Evans Oloo, a psychologist, says bipolar disorder is a mental condition that
\naffects mood regulation.<\/p>\n
An
\nindividual experiences rapid shifts, from sadness to euphoric highs.<\/p>\n
He says people
\ntend to think bipolar disorder is just about mood swings, but it is more
\ncomplex.<\/p>\n
\u201cA manic
\nepisode can push someone into risky behaviour, including overspending, unsafe
\nsex or even giving away properties,\u201d Oloo says.<\/p>\n
\u201cA
\ndepressive episode can leave someone in bed for weeks. Families often interpret
\nthis as laziness or stubbornness, when in reality it is a medical crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n
He advocates
\nboth medication and therapy, adding that medication stabilises the
\nneurochemical imbalances in the brain, allowing individuals to function.<\/p>\n
Therapy, on
\nthe other hand, provides coping mechanisms to handle stigma, family dynamics
\nand social pressures.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherapy is
\nnot about curing bipolar; it is about giving patients\u2019 tools,\u201d Oloo says.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor
\nexample, teaching them to identify triggers, develop daily routines and build
\nsupport systems. Without therapy, even with medication, relapse is very common.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Nelly Kamwale, a consultant psychiatrist, says there are different
\ntypes of bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is bipolar
\n1, bipolar 2 and cyclothymia, each with varying severity,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Kamwale says
\nbipolar disorder arises from a combination of genetic and neurochemical
\nfactors.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a parent
\nhas bipolar, the child has a higher risk,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut
\nenvironmental stress like trauma, poverty or substance abuse can trigger onset.
\nThat is why many people experience their first episode in early adulthood.\u201d<\/p>\n
She says treatment
\ninvolves careful monitoring, medication and psychotherapy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith proper
\nmanagement, people can live fully functional lives,\u201d she assures.<\/p>\n
The
\ndoctor advises against skipping doses, noting that \u201cit is very dangerous. A
\nsingle relapse can erase months of stability\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cTreatment
\ninvolves medication, mood stabilisers, antidepressants, antipsychotics and
\npsychotherapy. Both are necessary,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe use
\nmood stabilisers, such as lithium or valproate, sometimes antipsychotics during
\nsevere mania and antidepressants during depression.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut
\nevery patient responds differently, so constant monitoring is necessary.
\nSkipping medication can cause a relapse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cautioning
\nagainst stigma, Dr Kamwale warns that \u201cit kills faster than the illness\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany
\npatients stop taking medication because their families believe they are
\nbewitched,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n
\u201cOthers
\nlose jobs because employers don\u2019t understand. It is clear that education is our
\nmost powerful medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also
\nnotes that the country has a shortage of psychiatrists and most are in urban
\nareas, disadvantaging patients in rural areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cKenya has a
\nsevere shortage of psychiatrists. Most are in Nairobi. Patients in rural areas
\nrarely access proper care,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
MENTAL
\nHEALTH LANDSCAPE<\/b><\/p>\n
According to
\nthe Kenya Psychiatric Association, one in every four Kenyans is likely to
\nexperience mental illness at some point in their lives.<\/p>\n
Bipolar
\ndisorder, though less common than depression and anxiety, remains significantly
\nunderdiagnosed.<\/p>\n
With fewer
\nthan 200 practising psychiatrists serving a population of more than 50 million,
\naccess to care is a daily struggle.<\/p>\n
According
\nto Ministry of Health guidelines, Kenya needs 1,400 more psychiatrists, 7,000
\nmore psychiatric nurses and 3,000 more psychologists.<\/p>\n
In March, a detailed report forwarded to the UN ahead
\nof the fourth cycle of the peer review mechanism showed that the government
\nonly allocates 0.001 per cent of the national health budget towards mental
\nhealth annually.<\/p>\n
The globally
\nrecommended level is $1.16 (Sh150) per capita, but Kenya is spending $0.0012
\n(less than a cent), the report sent to Geneva showed.<\/p>\n
Families
\noften bear the burden, with patients relying on relatives for financial,
\nemotional and physical support.<\/p>\n
Despite the
\nhardships, both Samuel and Patience insist on hope.<\/p>\n
Samuel
\nmaintains a steady routine of medication, therapy, exercise and healthy living.
\nHe is raising two daughters with his wife and does advocacy work to support
\nothers.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor anyone
\ndiagnosed with bipolar or any mental illness, take care of yourself. Follow the
\ndoctor\u2019s instructions,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cSurround
\nyourself with supportive people. There is hope. Recovery is possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patience
\nechoes this message. \u201cAt first I thought my life was over,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut now I
\nknow it\u2019s just a part of me. I am still me. I can work, I can love, I can
\ndream. I just have to manage it. And I want others to know it\u2019s possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Samuel Boiyo
\nand Patience Kyalo\u2019s stories highlight both the challenges and the
\npossibilities of living with bipolar disorder in Kenya.<\/p>\n
Their
\njourneys convey one truth: bipolar disorder is not the end of life\u2019s story. It
\nis a chapter that, with courage, care and community, can be managed.<\/p>\n
As Samuel
\nputs it: \u201cEveryone has a mental illness to some degree. It is only the severity
\nthat differs. You are not alone. And you can live well. There is hope for
\ntomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Therapy session – PEXELSAt 42,
Samuel Boiyo has walked a path few understand. Diagnosed
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