The number of older persons in Kenya is expected to triple by 2050, reaching an estimated 12 million, up from the current 3.6 million, the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) has revealed.
Speaking during a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) event, NCPD director general Mohamed Sheikh issued a strong call to action, warning that the country is not adequately prepared to support its ageing population.
“It is high time we refocus national attention on the plight of older persons. Their numbers are increasing at an alarming rate,” said Sheikh.
He stated that without structured, long-term and adequately funded programmes, this growing demographic could place immense pressure on our social protection and healthcare systems.
Older persons in Kenya, defined by the UN as individuals aged 60 years and above, face a host of challenges, including poor health, inadequate nutrition, loneliness, lack of access to care, and vulnerability to abuse.
These risks are expected to intensify as the population ages.
Sheikh emphasised that the rising number of older persons is the result of improved healthcare, better nutrition, and enhanced living standards, but that longevity must be matched with quality care and social protection.
“Living longer should not mean suffering longer,” he said.
Historical data shows a steady increase in Kenya’s ageing population, from fewer than one million in 1989, to 2.5 million in 2019, and now 3.6 million in 2025.
If current trends continue, the country could face a significant shift in its population structure within a generation.
To address these developments, the government rolled out the National Policy on Older Persons and Ageing (2014), which outlines a rights-based approach to ageing and promotes the inclusion of older persons in healthcare, social services, and the economy.
However, implementation has lagged, and NCPD is urging both state and non-state actors to increase investment in age-friendly services and policies.
“We need a whole-of-society approach,” Sheikh added.
“The private sector must innovate with age-sensitive products and pensions; civil society must scale up outreach; and families must reaffirm their role in caring for older relatives.”
According to NCPD, inaction today could translate into a national crisis tomorrow, and calls for urgent, coordinated, and compassionate action to ensure that Kenya’s seniors age with dignity, health, and hope.
