Kenya celebrates longer lives, but are we ready to care for our older persons?

As the country marks the International Day of Older Persons, concerns over inadequate specialised healthcare, inaccessible infrastructure, limited data and gaps in legal protection raise questions about how well Kenya is preparing for an ageing population.

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For many older Kenyans, growing old should be a time to enjoy the fruits of years of hard work, spend time with family and watch younger generations build on the foundations they laid.

But the reality can be different.

A poorly designed pavement can turn a short walk into a dangerous journey. A hospital without specialists trained to manage age-related conditions can make access to treatment more difficult.

And when the responsibility for daily care falls almost entirely on family members, supporting an ageing parent can become a financial and emotional burden.

These are among the challenges facing older persons in Kenya, raising questions about whether the country is adequately prepared for a population that is living longer.

As Kenya marks the International Day of Older Persons, advocates and government officials are calling for stronger healthcare systems, better infrastructure, reliable data and legal protections that recognise the needs and rights of older people.

The concerns take centre stage during the inaugural National Celebration of the International Day of Older Persons in Kenya, running from September 30 to October 2 at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) in Nairobi.

Under the theme of longevity and strengthening systems, the conference brings together stakeholders to examine whether existing structures can support people through old age with dignity.

For Lydia Atambo, who chairs the national conference, celebrating older persons must go beyond recognising their contributions to families, communities and the economy.

It must also involve examining whether the systems around them are prepared for the realities of ageing.

"We are celebrating the older people. We are happy that they are here. We are grateful for their contributions, not just to the economy, but to Kenya as a whole and to the family setting," she says.

"But beyond the celebration, we are really asking whether the communities and the systems and the frameworks that we have speak to their needs."

Atambo warns that Kenya risks being caught unprepared if it does not begin strengthening its systems before the number of older persons grows further.

She identifies a shortage of reliable data on older persons as one of the major obstacles to planning and delivering appropriate services.

Without information about their circumstances, health needs, living conditions and access to care, it becomes difficult for policymakers to design programmes that respond to their actual challenges.

She is calling for the collection of better data and greater involvement of older persons in developing solutions that directly address their needs.

"Data is so important. We don't have data around people that can support the generation of these plans and policies that then help us to strengthen the system," Atambo says.

When ageing meets inaccessible infrastructure

Beyond policy discussions, the physical environment can determine how independently an older person lives.

For someone whose mobility has reduced with age, navigating a town without safe pavements, accessible buildings or wheelchair-friendly pathways can mean relying on others even for simple daily activities.

Government officials acknowledge that Kenya's housing, buildings and public infrastructure do not adequately respond to the needs of older persons.

The challenge is to create communities where people can continue moving around safely, accessing services and participating in public life as they grow older.

Thika has emerged as an example of efforts to address this problem after joining the World Health Organization's global network of age-friendly cities and communities.

The initiative brings together cities committed to improving their environments and services to accommodate older residents.

Officials say features such as safe pavements and wheelchair-accessible walkways can reduce the risk of falls and make it easier for older persons to move around independently.

However, the broader challenge remains ensuring that age-friendly planning extends beyond individual towns to the country's wider infrastructure and housing systems.

For older persons, accessibility is not simply a question of convenience. It can determine whether they remain independent or become increasingly dependent on family members and caregivers.

The healthcare gap

Healthcare presents another challenge, particularly for older persons who require specialised attention as they age.

Geriatrics, which focuses on healthcare for older people, and gerontology, the study of ageing and its related processes, remain areas where Kenya has limited specialised human resources, according to officials addressing the conference.

Many older persons seek treatment in public health facilities, yet these institutions have few specialists trained to address their specific needs.

This gap raises concerns about the country's ability to respond to age-related illnesses and provide comprehensive care as the population grows older.

The burden extends beyond hospitals and clinics.

Currently, much of the responsibility for caring for older persons rests with households, often placing pressure on relatives who must balance caregiving with work and other family responsibilities.

Officials say Kenya needs to explore ways of making long-term care more accessible, including incorporating a basic package of such services into the government's pursuit of universal health coverage.

The proposal would recognise that healthcare needs do not end with the treatment of an illness but may also include continued assistance with daily activities and other age-related needs.

For families caring for older relatives, access to affordable, consistent support could make a significant difference.

Shakira Khawaja, founder of Suqoon Kenya, an organisation advocating for the rights of older persons, says access to healthcare must remain central to efforts to improve their quality of life.

She is urging older persons to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) and make use of the available healthcare cover, while calling for continued attention to their specific medical needs.

The need for stronger legal protection

For Khawaja, Kenya must also strengthen the legal framework governing the protection of older persons.

She says the country needs a dedicated law that comprehensively addresses issues affecting older people, including discrimination and abuse.

Such legislation, she argues, would provide a framework for recognising their particular vulnerabilities and ensuring that their rights are adequately addressed.

"We're looking forward to having an Act for older persons that covers various issues, including discrimination, abuse, and legislation where matters of older persons are listed and discussed," she says.

Khawaja also calls for a review of the age threshold used to determine eligibility for Inua Jamii support, arguing that the current threshold of 70 years excludes some people who may also need assistance.

She wants the government to consider widening the programme's coverage to reach more older persons who require support.

The debate highlights a broader question about how Kenya defines vulnerability in old age and whether existing social protection programmes adequately reflect the different circumstances in which people age.

Preparing for longevity

Kenya's ageing population also presents an opportunity to rethink how society values older persons.

Their contributions extend beyond their years in formal employment. Many continue to support households, care for grandchildren, pass on cultural knowledge and provide guidance to younger generations.

Yet these contributions can be overshadowed by systems that do not adequately recognise their changing needs.

Officials at the conference say Kenya has made progress in recognising the rights of older persons, including constitutional protections, but acknowledge that implementation gaps remain.

The task ahead is to translate these commitments into practical support through accessible public spaces, specialised healthcare, reliable social protection and stronger safeguards against abuse and discrimination.

Khawaja says the country must confront an important question as life expectancy increases: whether it is preparing for the realities that come with longevity.

Atambo similarly urges government agencies, civil society organisations and other partners to work together to develop solutions informed by the experiences of older persons themselves.

For a country whose older citizens have spent decades raising families, building communities and contributing to national development, the measure of progress should not be limited to how long people live.

It should also be reflected in whether they can access healthcare without undue hardship, move around safely, receive support when they need it and live without discrimination or abuse.

As Kenya celebrates its older persons, the message from advocates is clear: honouring their contribution to society must go hand in hand with building systems that allow them to age with dignity.

Because growing old should not mean losing the right to independence, protection and a decent quality of life.