Sitawa Wafula is a leading Mental Health Consultant and advocate with over eight years of experience in self, national, and international mental health advocacy. She is widely recognized for her pioneering efforts to normalize mental health conversations across Africa, leveraging her personal lived experience to drive systemic change.
Sitawa first gained prominence as the creator of a Google Award-winning blog that provided mental health information and support to people across the continent. She later founded Kenya’s first free mental health support line, breaking significant ground in access to mental health services. Her work has brought critical awareness to mental health issues in Africa and has been featured in both Kenyan and international media outlets, including BBC, NPR, PRI, and Guardian Nigeria. Her opinion pieces have been published widely, with one influential article on integrating mental health into the Africa Rising narrative syndicated across four major Kenyan newspapers.
Her accolades reflect the depth and reach of her impact. She has been recognized among Women Leading Africa, Top 50 Most Impactful Global Social Innovators, Top 42 African Innovators to Watch, Kenya’s Top 40 Under 40 Women, and as a Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Champion.
Sitawa is also a TED Speaker, an Aspen New Voices Fellow, and an alumna of the Amani Institute, where she earned a Postgraduate Certificate in Social Innovation Management.
She currently leads the Sitawa Wafula Mental Health Academy, where she mentors and develops the next generation of African mental health champions. In addition, she hosts “My Mind My Funk,” a weekly podcast that demystifies mental health by showcasing diverse African voices sharing their journeys, challenges, and self-care strategies.
