Kenyans pay up to Sh100,000 to learn how to sleep

Mwende Kimweli’s entry into sleep coaching didn’t come from crisis, but from curiosity. Her baby slept, a detail she is quick to point out because it runs against the usual narrative. She had prepared for it.

“I am a Type A personality through and through. Order is not a preference, it is a lifestyle,” she says, explaining how she read extensively on schedules, wake windows and routines before her baby arrived, then implemented them from day one.

What shifted things was what she encountered online soon after.

“There they were, thousands of mums, desperate, exhausted… all asking the same questions and getting no real answers,” she says.

Watching that gap pushed Kimweli into research, first to understand sleep science, then apply it in a way that could help others. She began offering pro bono support to mothers in 2016 and by September 2017, she had committed to it fully.

Building that career from Kenya required a different kind of discipline. There were no training pathways, so her studies in paediatric sleep and later adult sleep disorders were done internationally.

“You are essentially building a career in a field most people around you have never heard of,” she says.

Her work today is structured around a limited client load.

“I take on a maximum of two clients per day. That is a deliberate decision,” she says.

Every case involves assessment, daily follow-ups, reporting, calls and ongoing adjustments.

“Taking on more than I can serve properly is something I will not do.”

That level of involvement is reflected in how her services are structured. She offers an entry-level phone consultation at Sh5,000 for parents seeking guidance on a specific issue, while more intensive programmes run between four and eight weeks and can cost up to Sh100,000, depending on the level of support required.

“Every case is different, the complexity, the history, the goals… all determine where the investment sits,” she says, noting that pricing only comes after a full assessment.

Results, Kimweli says, are tied to consistency.

“Small wins can begin to show in seven to 14 days,” she says, though progress depends on a child’s history and if past sleep habits need to be unlearned first.

“The plan works when the plan is worked,” she says.

Her sessions are built around close, ongoing involvement with the family. She offers virtual and in-home support, but insists on a one-on-one model.

“No two children are the same, no two families are the same,” she says.

Every engagement begins with a detailed assessment covering health history, feeding, environment and previous interventions before a tailored plan is developed.

From there, it becomes hands-on. Kimweli tracks day and night sleep, prepares daily reports and adjusts routines in real time.
For working parents, this often includes coordinating with caregivers during the day to ensure consistency.

“This is not about handing over a plan and hoping for the best. The goal is for the whole family to get sleep, not just the baby,” she says.
For those looking to follow a similar path, Kimweli is direct. Training provides a foundation, but the work itself involves practise.

“It does not give you the instinct, empathy or the ability to sit with a mother at 2am who is falling apart and actually help her,” she says.

Anisa Samnani-Shariff, a paediatric sleep consultant with more than five years’ experience, came into the work from a place she recognises in many of her clients.

“My journey began where many of my clients are now – exhausted and searching for answers,” she says.

After struggling through sleep deprivation as a new mother, she turned to sleep training with her own daughter.

“It was a life-changer. It literally saved my life and restored our happiness,” Anisa says.

With a background in child and youth development, she moved from personal experience to professional practice, offering structured sleep support for infants and children up to age seven.

Anisa has worked with more than 400 families, every case shaping her approach to different sleep challenges.

“Every experience has allowed me to refine my approach and provide tailored, effective solutions,” she says.

Her training was online, covering sleep science, behavioural strategies and case management, alongside supervised practical work.

Anisa describes the pathway in Kenya as accessible but demanding, requiring reliable internet, time for coursework and the ability to navigate global schedules and payments.

Most engagements begin with a free discovery call, followed by a detailed assessment of the child’s sleep patterns before she develops a personalised plan. The core programme typically runs for two weeks, with support through follow-up calls, email or WhatsApp.

“Most families begin to see improvements in the first week,” she says, adding that many babies start sleeping through the night during that period.

Consultations are largely online, allowing her to work with families in different locations. She also offers home visits.

Pricing varies, depending on the child’s age and the level of support needed, with packages ranging from Sh13,000 to Sh130,000.

Demand, Anisa says, is growing, particularly among urban families. Still, awareness remains uneven.

“Many families see sleep problems as ‘normal’ rather than treatable,” she says, adding that sleep plays a huge role in a child’s development.

The concerns of parents are often similar – frequent night waking, difficulty settling at bedtime, short naps and sleep regressions linked to developmental stages.

In some cases, she identifies issues that require medical referral, such as suspected sleep-disordered breathing.

Clients find her through social media, parenting groups and referrals, often at a point of exhaustion. Converting that interest into working relationships, depends on clarity and trust.

“Free initial calls or workshops help convert inquiries,” Anisa says.

Turning sleep coaching into a career took time. It took about a year to build a steady flow of clients through referrals and repeat business.

Sustainability, she says, comes from structuring services properly, combining one-on-one consultations with group programmes and digital products.

A big part of her work involves addressing misconceptions, particularly around sleep training.

“Sleep coaching can be gentle and supportive,” Anisa says, pushing back against the idea that it involves leaving children to cry.
Trust, she adds, is built through results in how children sleep and how parents feel.

For those considering the field, she emphasises the technical and human side of the work.

“You’re working with families, not just sleep patterns,” she says, pointing to the need for knowledge and the ability to guide parents through a process that is often as emotional as it is practical.

Naveeda Keshvani Manji says she got into sleep coaching through her experience as a parent.

“I wanted to offer this line of service to families in Kenya and abroad,” she says.

She now works as a certified paediatric sleep consultant, guiding parents on how to help babies and toddlers fall asleep independently and maintain consistent sleep patterns.

Focus is on structure, sleep hygiene and predictable routines tailored to every child. Clients come for a specific need.

“It’s a service offered. Once done, the client moves on their way,” she says, noting that there is no set client base or number she works with at any given time.

Sessions can be virtual or at home, depending on the family's preference. A typical engagement starts with one main consultation with parents, followed by a structured programme that usually runs for about 10 days.

It includes an educational component, where she walks parents through the science behind sleep, including hormones and daily routines, before introducing a step-by-step plan with follow-ups built in.

“It is not a one-size-fits-all,” she says, stressing that every plan is built around the child’s specific needs, from feeding schedules.

Manji says demand for sleep coaching is growing in Kenya, helped in part by referrals from paediatricians and increased awareness among parents. Still, misconceptions persist.

“Many parents have a misguided idea that sleep training is a cry-it-out method. I encourage parents to be present in the room and involved from day one,” she says.

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