'Abandoned and left to loiter': Concerns raised in Kirinyaga over families neglecting their elderly kin

In Ndia, Assistant County Commissioner Doreen Mwenda has raised alarm over what she described as a worrying trend of elderly parents being isolated in their own homes, often left in the care of grandchildren while their adult children move away or disengage from day-to-day responsibilities.

Speaking during a community engagement forum, Mwenda urged families to rethink what she called a “narrow approach” to caring for older persons, noting that sending money alone was not enough to preserve their dignity.

“Parents played a huge role in raising their children, yet it becomes difficult for some children to care for them in return,” she said. “We want to change the narrative that parents only need money sent to them while at home. They should be taken to hospital, included in family activities, and treated with dignity.”

Her remarks come against the backdrop of the government’s Inua Jamii programme, which provides monthly cash transfers of KSh 2,000 to elderly citizens. Local officials say this financial assistance has not fully addressed emotional neglect, healthcare needs, and social isolation among seniors.

Ndia Social Development Officer Irene Wanjiku Makara painted a similarly stark picture, saying many older people in villages are living in conditions of abandonment and vulnerability.

“It is sad to see many old people loitering in villages. Some have no income, others have health problems, and they face many challenges,” she said. “If all older people were properly cared for, you would not see so many homes for the aged.”

Beyond care and companionship, Mwenda also flagged rising tensions around land inheritance as a growing source of strain between elderly parents and their children. She warned that pressure to subdivide or transfer property prematurely is exposing older persons to conflict and insecurity.

“Children should not force their parents to subdivide property,” she said, urging families to allow elders time to make informed decisions about their estates.

Civil society actors are also stepping in to address the gap. Lydia Makena, coordinator of Suqoon Foundation, said the organisation is working in Sagana to reconnect generations and reduce neglect through community-based programmes.

“We are trying to bridge the generational gap by bringing youth and the elderly together,” she said.

As Kenya’s population ages, stakeholders say the Kirinyaga case reflects a broader national conversation: whether traditional family structures are keeping pace with changing social and economic realities—or quietly leaving the elderly behind.