Aggrey Mokaya

Aggrey Mokaya is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) in Durban, South Africa. Born and raised in Kenya, he trained as a Public Health Officer and holds a PhD in Public Health.

His research focuses on mental health, with particular emphasis on adolescents and young people. He is interested in how youth engagement in research can improve mental health outcomes, strengthen communities, and empower young people to actively participate in shaping solutions to health challenges.

His work has explored topics such as healthcare worker stigma toward people with substance use disorders, as well as teacher-led psychoeducation interventions addressing school violence, depression, and suicidal behaviour. He is strongly committed to participatory research approaches that centre the voices of young people and ensure they meaningfully contribute to the research process.

Beyond his research, he is dedicated to building research capacity and improving public engagement with science, aiming to make complex health issues more accessible and actionable for communities.