Forgotten No More: A Nation's Call to Honour and Protect Its Ageing Pillars

In the twilight of their lives, many older Kenyans are not basking in the warmth of familial respect or societal honour. Instead, they are enduring abuse— quietly, invisibly. As Kenya joins the world to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 2025, the haunting reality emerges: behind closed doors in homes, in slums, rural villages, and even hospitals, elder abuse is taking root. It is a pandemic of silence.

The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), at the heart of this year’s commemoration themed “Empowering Older Persons: Building Resilient Communities Free from Abuse”, paints a sobering picture: a rising population of older people faces a rising tide of neglect, exploitation, and violence. The question is no longer if we act, but how fast.

Kenya is ageing. According to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, 2.7 million Kenyans—about 6% of the population—are aged 60 and above. By 2050, this is projected to hit 10%. Significantly, women make up 55% of this population, most of whom reside in rural areas where poverty and invisibility intersect.

Elder abuse manifests in painful, often invisible ways. In Kisii and Kilifi counties, elderly women are attacked— sometimes lynched—on trumped-up witchcraft accusations, often motivated by greed and land disputes. In Nairobi’s informal settlements, elderly men are left unattended in squalid conditions, with no access to medical care or family support. Cases of neglected elders dumped at public hospitals have become alarmingly routine.

Yet, these are only the cases that come to light.

“Elder abuse in Kenya is significantly underreported,” says Hon. Rehema Jaldesa, Chairperson at NGEC. “Stigma, fear, and lack of awareness about rights and redress systems mean many suffer in silence.”

Kenya’s current efforts to support older persons are notable but insufficient. The Inua Jamii cash transfer programme provides KES 2,000 bi-monthly to individuals over 70. However, widespread delays, poor coverage, and lack of accountability dilute its impact. Other schemes such as the NSSF, Mbao Pension Plan, and SHIF aim to cushion older persons, yet barriers remain—especially for those in informal employment or remote regions.

Community and faith-based organisations offer home-based care, but these efforts are often under-resourced and inconsistent. Meanwhile, Article 57 of the Constitution guarantees older Kenyans the right to dignity, respect, and care, but implementation remains sluggish.

NGEC's Call to Action: A Seven-Point Agenda for Dignity

In observance of WEAAD 2025, NGEC has unveiled a robust policy framework to turn words into action:

1.Enactment of the Older Persons Bill (2024): A dedicated legal framework to define rights, care standards, and punish abuse.

2.Invest in Age-Friendly Infrastructure: From geriatric clinics to inclusive public transport and digital literacy.

3.Expand Social Protection: Include caregivers and vulnerable older persons under 70 years.

4.Mainstream Elder Rights: Integrate aging issues into all sectors—justice, education, public participation.

5. Strengthen Data Collection: Use gender- and age-disaggregated data to drive policy. Establish Local Redress Mechanisms: Link communities with police, medics, and civil society.

6. Promote Intergenerational Solidarity: Foster community models that support psychosocial wellbeing and reduce isolation.

Kenya’s development policies often speak to youth and children, but rarely centre ageing populations as active contributors. This omission is short-sighted. Older persons are not just recipients of care; they are veterans of labour, volunteers in faith communities, mentors in agriculture, and anchors of rural economies.

NGEC is urging the integration of older persons’ needs across Vision 2030, the Fourth MediumTerm Plan, county Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs), and the National Ageing Strategy. It has also recommended age disaggregation in national surveys, to make ageing visible in data and budgeting.

As Kenyans don purple ribbons this WEAAD to honour their elderly, the symbolism must be matched with substance. It is not enough to commemorate. We must legislate, fund, enforce, and educate.

The elderly are not relics of a fading past. They are living testaments of resilience. They sang freedom songs. They built bridges, both literal and metaphorical. They deserve more than perfunctory praise. They deserve protection, presence, and policy.

“You cannot inherit the future if you forsake your ancestors,” says Commissioner Mbithuka during WEAAD 2025 events in Nairobi. “Let us build a Kenya where ageing is honoured, not punished.”

Commissioner Mbithuka during WEAAD 2025 events in Nairobi