Photo Caption : Suqoon Kenya Founder and Director Shakira Adil Khawaja speaks during the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) 2026 Conference in Nairobi.
NAIROBI, October 2, 2026 — Suqoon Kenya has called for stronger action to improve the care and protection of older persons through research, legislation, healthcare and community-based support.
Speaking in a side interview on the sidelines of the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) 2026 Conference in Nairobi, Suqoon Kenya Founder and Director Shakira Adil Khawaja said the conference had provided an important platform for stakeholders and older persons to discuss challenges affecting ageing and identify practical ways of improving their wellbeing.
“IDOP for 2026 for us has been an absolute success. We have had the first ever conference in Kenya for older persons, and it has been graced by the PS from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection,” she said.
Shakira, a Kenyan humanitarian involved in initiatives supporting older persons and vulnerable communities through Suqoon Kenya, commended the Ministries of Labour and Social Protection and Health for jointly convening the conference.
“I would like to really commend the organising committee from the Ministry of Labour and from the Ministry of Health. For the first time, they have come together to put together such a conference, and we can see that they work so well together,” she said.
She called for the Government to proceed with planned research on older persons, saying reliable data would help inform policies and programmes targeting the ageing population.
“We are asking that they also move forward with the research that they are planning to do for older persons. That will be very useful, and the data that will be collected from there will be very helpful,” Shakira said.
Shakura said about 300 older persons from different counties had been mobilised to attend the conference in Nairobi, giving them an opportunity to share their experiences and participate in discussions on issues affecting their lives.
The discussions covered areas including the silver economy, social protection, legislation and healthcare, while a scientific pre-conference examined health-related issues including healthy ageing and dementia.
Shakira said Suqoon Kenya and its partners were also supporting plans for an intergenerational village, which will bring together older and younger people while providing practical services to older persons.
“We are also going to go in and have an intergenerational village, which has been supported by our donors. This intergenerational village will have some barazas, there is going to be a medical camp, there are going to be conversations with the young and the older persons, and there is going to be a legal desk,” she said.
She said the initiative would also provide older persons with opportunities to seek guidance on legal matters and insurance, which she noted were important in strengthening their social and financial security.
Shakira further urged families and communities to pay greater attention to older persons, particularly during periods of adverse weather when some may be unable to leave their homes or access assistance.
“We are asking for support for them. Please take a look at who is elderly in your home and see how you can support them,” she said.
She noted that chiefs, community health promoters, governors and other community actors could help identify and support vulnerable older persons within their communities.
Shakira welcomed progress in Kenya’s social protection and legal framework, including the Social Protection Act of 2025 and the Disabilities Act, while calling for continued efforts to advance legislation specifically protecting older persons.
“This Act is important because it will protect our older persons. We are also very grateful that we have a Social Protection Act that came out in 2025 because that also talks to vulnerable communities of which they are considered one,” she said.
She said collective action by government, families, communities and partners could help the country adequately respond to the needs of its ageing population.
“Most of our older persons, there are only three million, and I think that we can take care of all of them in our country,” Shakira said.
