(Kenya) Senate bill would provide free autism care, early diagnosing

June 15, 2026, Star: New Senate bill seeks free autism care, early diagnosis and end to stigma

For years, many Kenyan families raising children with autism have faced a lonely and expensive journey, moving from one hospital to another in search of answers while battling stigma and limited support. A new Bill before the Senate now seeks to change that reality.

The Autism Management Bill, 2025, sponsored by Senator Karen Nyamu, proposes a comprehensive national framework to improve early diagnosis, expand access to treatment and create greater awareness about autism spectrum disorder.

The proposed law aims to provide long-overdue support to families that have largely navigated autism without adequate state assistance.

While moving the Bill in the Senate, Nyamu said the legislation goes beyond healthcare and addresses issues of equality, dignity and inclusion.

"The Autism Management Bill is not just another piece of legislation before this House. It is legislation that promotes compassion, equality and inclusivity," she said. . . .

According to the Autism Society of Kenya, an estimated four per cent of the population, or about 2.2 million people, may be on the autism spectrum, although Kenya does not have a nationally representative prevalence study.

Health experts have also raised concerns over delayed diagnosis, with many children only being identified after the age of four. . . .

The legislation also seeks to improve the inclusion of autistic children in schools by ensuring learning institutions are better equipped to meet their needs.

Nyamu further wants autism-related treatment covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) to ease the financial burden on families, many of whom spend heavily on therapy services. . . .

Senators supporting the Bill, among them Samson Cherarkey, called for increased awareness and urged parents not to hide children living with autism, saying the condition is medically manageable.

Debate on the proposed legislation is expected to continue in the Senate.