Where to complain about how a mental health patient was treated
Mental Health Act; Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority · sources read 5 Oct 2026
A person with mental illness can complain to the Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA) about how a health professional treated them while in their care. KHPOA must decide within six months, and you can appeal to the High Court.
- How long
- KHPOA must decide within six months
- Where
- Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA), KWFT Building, 11th Floor, Nairobi (info@khpoa.go.ke, +254 742 157 424)
Steps
- Lodge the complaint with KHPOA, naming the health professional and describing how the patient was treated.
- KHPOA must hear and decide the complaint within six months and report its findings to you.
- If you are not satisfied with KHPOA's decision, you may appeal to the High Court.
Watch out
- This route covers how a health professional treated the patient while in their custody, care and control.
Who this covers
- A person with mental illness, about treatment by a health professional while in that professional's custody, care and control
- If the patient cannot complain: their appointed supporter, their representative, or for a child, the guardian
- If those people cannot or will not, any other person may complain for the patient
Official sources (2)
- Mental Health Act (Cap. 248) new.kenyalaw.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- KHPOA: Contact us khpoa.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026