Nairobi, May 12 -- Psychology is rapidly emerging as one of the most popular courses among university students, reflecting a shift in career interests and a growing mental health awareness.

The latest Economic Survey report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicates that the number of psychology graduates increased 660 percent to reach 1,338 in the 2025/26 academic year, up from 176 in the 2024/25 academic year.

Only 146 students graduated from both public and private universities in the previous year, with fewer numbers in 2022/23 and 2021/22, at 38 and 42 graduates, respectively.

The more than sevenfold jump, experts say, is attributed to a growing demand for qualified mental health professionals, forcing even psychologists...