Kenya: Experts Call for Stronger Health, Social Systems to Support Kenya's Ageing Population
Health experts in Kenya are calling for integrated social and health systems to better support the country's rapidly aging population. The discussion highlights that aging is a multifaceted issue requiring better data collection and community-based support frameworks.
Why it matters
As life expectancy increases, developing nations face the challenge of adapting social infrastructure to prevent the marginalization of older citizens.
Nairobi - Kenya must strengthen and better connect its health, social protection and community systems to cope with a growing older population and ensure longer lives are matched by health, dignity and independence, experts have said.
Health experts, researchers, policymakers, practitioners and older persons meeting in Nairobi warned that ageing cannot be treated solely as a medical issue, with older people increasingly facing multiple and overlapping challenges including non-communicable diseases (NCDs), dementia, mental health conditions, mobility limitations, malnutrition, abuse and social isolation.
The discussions were held at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) during the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) 2026 Scientific Pre-Conference ahead of the main conference scheduled for October 1-2.
Kenya's 2019 Population and Housing Census recorded about 2.7 million people aged 60 years and above, highlighting the need for systems to prepare for an ageing population.
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