Kenya is being urged to strengthen the systems supporting older persons and their caregivers as the country prepares for its first national International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) celebrations.
The call emerged during an IDOP 2026 Media Breakfast held on Monday at the Pullman Hotel in Upper Hill, Nairobi, bringing together journalists, government representatives, health experts, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss the country’s approach to ageing.
The discussions focused on the need to make ageing a broader public-interest issue, with attention shifting beyond the needs of older persons to include the families and individuals who provide care.
Peninah Ndonye of the Ministry of Health’s Division of Healthy Ageing, Palliative Care and Older Persons highlighted the pressure faced by family caregivers, many of whom are working adults balancing employment, household responsibilities and the care of ageing relatives.
The discussion also drew attention to the financial and emotional demands associated with caregiving, as well as the need for greater support for caregivers and stronger protection against abuse and neglect of older persons.
The engagement was held under the theme “Advancing Healthy Ageing and Older Persons’ Rights in Kenya: Coordinated Health, Social Protection, and Community Action.”
The theme emphasises the need for greater coordination between healthcare services, social protection programmes, families, communities and other institutions involved in supporting older persons.
Kenya's national IDOP celebrations are scheduled for September 30 to October 2, 2026, with activities centred at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) in Nairobi and additional engagements planned across the counties.
The programme will include research and scientific discussions on ageing, community activities, health-related initiatives and platforms bringing together different generations.
An intergenerational village will provide an opportunity for younger and older people to discuss issues surrounding ageing, including retirement, caregiving, family responsibilities and relationships between generations.
Stakeholders said such conversations are important as Kenya considers how families, communities and institutions can respond to changing demographic realities.
The role of older persons in families, communities and national development was also highlighted during the media engagement, with stakeholders calling for greater recognition of their contributions while addressing challenges such as ageism, inadequate income security, access to healthcare and age-friendly infrastructure.
At the community level, counties are expected to participate through activities such as medical camps, health screening, provision of assistive devices, social protection awareness and recognition of older persons who have contributed to their communities.
Private-sector and development partners are also participating in the initiative, reflecting the organisers' emphasis on a coordinated approach to ageing.
Assistant Director of Social Development Julie Omolo called for sustained media coverage of ageing issues beyond the annual International Day of Older Persons observance.
The media breakfast was organised ahead of the national celebrations to give journalists a deeper understanding of the issues shaping Kenya's ageing agenda and provide opportunities for continued reporting on older persons, caregiving, healthcare and social protection.
As the country prepares for the IDOP 2026 celebrations, the discussions in Nairobi have placed the experiences of older persons and their caregivers at the centre of a wider national conversation on how Kenya can promote healthy ageing, dignity, inclusion and community support.
