Mental Health Is Not a Sign of Weakness
Afya Rejeshi was born from a simple belief: everyone deserves access to quality mental health care, free from stigma, regardless of where they are in Kenya.
Why We Built This
In Kenya, mental health challenges are often misunderstood. Depression is dismissed as sadness. PTSD is mistaken for weakness. Alcohol use disorder is labelled a moral failing. And for those serving in high-stress roles, like military personnel, security officers, and first responders, seeking help can feel like a career risk.
Afya Rejeshi, meaning “Regenerative Health” in Swahili, was created to change that. We’re building a platform where people can access mental health support discreetly, on their own terms, through professionals who understand their context.
No personal phone numbers exchanged. No waiting rooms. No fear of being seen. Just the right support, when you need it.
Founded on Two Passions
Afya Rejeshi was founded by two people who saw the same gap from different angles.
A Doctor’s Mission
Clinical Perspective
A medical professional passionate about mental health who saw firsthand how stigma prevents people from getting the help they deserve. The conviction that mental wellness is not separate from physical wellness but foundational to it drives every clinical decision behind the platform.
“Mental health care shouldn’t require courage. It should be as routine as seeing your doctor for a cough.”
A Builder’s Vision
Technology Perspective
A technologist passionate about building products that bring communities together. The belief that technology should remove barriers, not create them, and that the best platforms disappear into the background while connecting people who need each other.
“The best technology connects people without getting in the way. That’s what we’re building.”
How We’re Different
We didn’t build another telemedicine app. We built a platform grounded in how mental health care actually works in Kenya.
Anonymous entry, gradual disclosure
Start with nothing but curiosity. Share who you are only when, and if, you choose to.
Career-safe by design
Health records are structurally separated from employment and academic records. No exceptions.
Offline and USSD first
A veteran on a feature phone in Turkana gets the same care pathway as a student in Nairobi.
The whole care continuum
CHVs, clinical officers, nurses, and specialists work on one platform, with clean handoffs.
Swahili-first where it matters
Bilingual by design: Swahili-first on USSD and SMS, English on practitioner portals.
Verified practitioners only
Every counsellor is CPB or KMPDC verified before they see a single client.