The recent death of Susan Njoki, a fervent mental health advocate and the founder of Toto Touch Kenya, has left the mental health community in Kenya in mourning and in outrage. Njoki, who suffered from bipolar disorder and was a vocal participant in mental health advocacy, died under suspicious circumstances that have spotlighted the severe deficiencies within Kenya's mental health care system.

Reports indicate that Njoki was forcibly taken from her home by four individuals – two men and two women – claiming to act under the instructions of her psychiatrist and husband, Alois Ngure. In a distressing audio recording, she detailed how she was injected and removed from her home without her consent. Her pleas for rationale and mercy were blatantly ignored as she was transported to the Chiromo Group of Hospitals, Braeside Branch in Nairobi.

While at the facility, Njoki managed to post a message on Facebook asking for help, but it was soon deleted by the nursing staff who also confiscated her phone, further silencing her desperate cries for help. Her last recorded words were a poignant testament to her plight, "They forced me to lie down and injected me again... If death looks like this, let them take me back home."

The following day, the shocking news of her death was communicated to her family, not in person, but through the delivery of her body. Initial claims by the hospital suggested a medication error, but an autopsy report later confirmed the true cause of her death: manual strangulation.

This horrifying revelation has sparked widespread demand for justice, both from her family and the global online community. The incident has raised serious questions about the enforcement and adequacy of the Mental Health Act, 2022, which was designed to protect individuals with mental health conditions from abuse and ensure their rights to dignified treatment.

Section 3 of the Mental Health Act emphasizes the right of persons with mental illness to consent to treatment and be free from physical and mental abuse. Yet, the tragic events leading to Njoki's death demonstrate a glaring disconnect between the law and its implementation.

The case of Susan Njoki is not just a personal tragedy but a critical lens through which the failures of Kenya’s mental health system are starkly visible. It underscores the urgent need for systemic reform – not only in how mental health laws are applied but in the broader societal attitudes towards mental health and the rights of those who live with these conditions.

As the investigation into Susan Njoki’s death continues, it is crucial that this case not be seen as an isolated incident but as a call to action to address the pervasive issues within mental health care practices. The safety and dignity of every individual, regardless of their mental health status, must be a priority. The memory of Susan Njoki's life and advocacy should drive us toward a future where such injustices are unthinkable.