Kenya is poised to decriminalize attempted suicide and reform substance use laws, shifting from criminal punishment to a care-based approach for mental health. This move follows sustained advocacy and a High Court ruling that deemed the colonial-era provision criminalizing attempted suicide unconstitutional.

• The proposed reform centers on repealing Section 226 of the Penal Code, which previously led to the arrest and imprisonment of suicide attempt survivors.
• Key organizations driving this change include the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) and the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.
• While the parliamentary amendments enjoy broad bipartisan support, the NGEC emphasized that decriminalization must be accompanied by serious investment in mental health services, as Kenya currently faces a severe shortage of professionals, facilities, and funding.