# What approvals are needed to use mental health data for research in Kenya?

URL: https://tymirahealth.com/resources/faqs/what-approvals-are-needed-to-use-mental-health-data-for-research-in-kenya
For: Digital health teams | Data protection and privacy | Reviewed by Independent clinical reviewer, Registered mental health clinician, Kenya | Last reviewed 8 November 2026

**Answer:** For health data accessed from the national system, the 2025 Regulations require approval from a registered Institutional Review Board, a NACOSTI research licence and, where applicable, approval from the health data controller. Beyond that, the Data Protection Act's principles still apply: purpose limitation, minimisation and security. Wherever possible share anonymised or pseudonymised data, remove free-text notes, and suppress small counts that could identify someone in a small community. Ask your DPO and ethics committee before any data leaves the clinical system.

Sources: Kenya Law: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/ln/2025/76/eng@2025-04-11 - Kenya Law: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/2019/24/eng@2022-12-31 - Kenya Law: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/ln/2021/263/eng@2022-12-31

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