Abstract
Background: Communication disability has led to the emergence and development of the interdisciplinary profession of speech–language therapy (SLT). Yet, as with many other professions, the development of SLT has not been uniform across the world. This is despite the fact that communication disability affects people of all races, ethnicities, and geopolitical regions. In many African countries, the emergence of SLT can be traced to the colonial past and its development since then has been checkered. Methodology: A descriptive/scoping review was conducted that sought to qualitatively interpret and synthesize information relating to the development of the SLT profession in Kenya from various sources. Results: This chapter presents the socioeconomic and political factors that have shaped the emergence and development of SLT in Kenya. In addition, it looks at the role of governmental and nongovernmental agencies in the development of SLT services in the country. The chapter also highlights the challenges that have determined the development of SLT as a profession. Discussion: Despite the challenges, opportunities abound for SLT as a profession in Kenya. These are discussed in the chapter, and future recommendations are made.
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Nthiga, P.M., Nyamasyo, E.A. (2023). Speech-Language Therapy in Kenya: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities. In: Lüdtke, U.M., Kija, E., Karia, M.K. (eds) Handbook of Speech-Language Therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04504-2_9
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