Dr. Frank Njenga
Dr. Frank Njenga is an elder statesman of African Psychiatry who qualified 45 years ago in London. He is an accomplished academic, entrepreneur, author and public servant who continues to teach, write and practice Psychiatry in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Academic
He is a longstanding member of the American Psychiatric Association (21 years) & will be at the Annual Conference of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in Los Angeles in May 2025. He was elected fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists of the UK and is a Professor of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He obtained his medical degree (MbChB) at the University of Nairobi 50 years ago (1975) and taught at the same University in the early eighties.
National Services
He served as Presidential Advisor on Mental Health, was Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Mental health and also saw service as Chair of the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) for many years. In these roles, he has spearheaded the shaping of mental health legislation, policy development, and action plans currently being implemented in Kenya. He also served in a Tribunal to establish the mental fitness of a judge to practice. He was also a member of The Tribunal to inquire into the cult killings at Shakahola in Kenya.
Author
He has authored several books and book chapters in lay and academic publications. The most recent book, Healing the Mind, was published in 2023. Earlier books include The Textbook Essentials of Psychiatry for Sub-Saharan Africa. Several books for children were published by Oxford University Press (Including Madhouse, Never Again, Hooked, and What’s Wrong with This Child).
Public Speaker
He is a much sought-after public speaker who has delivered lectures across the globe addressing topical and current public concerns, including mental health in adolescence, mental health and migration, and the concerns of members of the diaspora. His long-standing TV series, Frankly Speaking, broke barriers in the public understanding of Mental health and the associated stigma.
With The Church
With Nobel Laureate Wangari Mathai, he addressed the mental health needs of the clergy, worked with Anglican Bishops in Africa, and ran a program for Catholic clergy from South Sudan with other team members of Chiromo Hospital Group. He continues to work with most Churches in Kenya to create awareness of mental health issues among the clergy, who are, in many cases, the first port of call for those in distress of any sort.
International Service
On the International front, he served the World Psychiatric Association, was the founding President of the Association of African Psychiatrists and Allied Professionals, and delivered a lecture at the Carter Centre in Atlanta some years ago. He has also delivered academic papers in Australia, Japan, China, Europe, South America, and across the African continent.
Current Engagements
After 50 years of practice, Frank Njenga is on the “giving back to society mode”, teaching young Psychiatrists and psychologists practical skills in clinical practice. He also gives lectures to churches and other groups, including teachers and the National Police Service. He is also the Chief Psychiatrist at Chiromo Hospital Group, where he sees patients referred from all over the world. As founder, he remains on the Board of the Chiromo Hospital Group (CHG). He serves as its chair and provides strategic direction for the group in its service to humanity.