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A VOICE FOR THE VULNERABLE

By Lauren Hassani | Photos by Marco Javier

Agnes Kariuki’s lifelong mission to protect Kibera’s aging community.

Kibera, one of Africa’s largest informal settlements, is located in Nairobi, Kenya, about 3 miles southwest of the city center. It began in 1912 as a settlement on the outskirts of the city and has since grown into a densely packed urban area covering approximately one square mile. Population estimates vary widely, ranging from 200,000 to over 500,000 residents and poverty is widespread, with many earning less than $2 per day, relying on informal jobs and small businesses to survive. However, despite limited infrastructure, high unemployment, and inadequate sanitation, Kibera is a community with strong social ties, entrepreneurial spirit, and grassroots activism. Various organizations work to improve access to health care, education, and essential services, offering hope amid economic hardship.

Agnes Kariuki’s career in community service began in 1985 with the Kenya Water for Health Organisation (KWAHO), where her work in sanitation, hygiene, and economic development exposed her to the severe challenges facing older adults — neglect, abuse, and lack of basic care. Determined to create a safe space for them, she founded the Kibera Day Care Centre for the Elderly (KDCCE) in 1989 with a group of 17 older persons. Today, KDCCE serves over 3,200 older residents through 33 Older Persons Associations (OPAs), offering meals, medical care, home visits, and a vital community network.

Through partnerships with groups like HelpAge International, Agnes expanded KDCCE’s reach. Programs like “Adopt a Granny” and Inua Jamii 70+ have provided financial and social support to thousands. Beyond services, Agnes advocated for the rights of older adults, rescuing those in need and promoting intergenerational dialogue on mental health and family issues, fostering a spirit of ‘Leave No One Behind.’ Her legacy continues to inspire and drive KDCCE’s ongoing mission.

In February 2024, AARP had the honor of speaking with Agnes in her KDCCE office. In this interview, she reflected on KDCCE’s founding, her role as a leader, and her hopes for a society that honors and cares for its elders.

Kibera is not a continuous settlement; rather, it is a patchwork of “villages,” each with its own identity.

AARP Tell us a little bit about your background and where you got started.

Agnes Kariuki I grew up in the upcountry. I came to Nairobi to look for a job after school, and my father happened to be in Kibera. So, I came to Kibera to join my father. That’s when I got my first job as the Women’s Coordinator in the Kenya Water for Health Organization. I studied social work and community development in college. When I got the chance to work in the community, I knew that was where I was supposed to be. I joined KWAHO in 1988 and worked there for three years.

AARP Where did you get the idea to start the Kibera Day Care Centre for the Elderly?

AK At KWAHO, after seeing the challenges facing the older persons, we started meeting together, grouping them together, wanting to know more about them. And then in 1989, we registered and started the program. We started with 17 older persons — 10 women and 7 men. I used my salary to buy tea and food for them. They could come, we would sit down, have a cup of tea, and then have lunch, and then they would go home. After that, when I was free, I could visit them, both those who came to the meetings and those who stayed home. I decided to work with the government offices and companies to find food for them. I also had to talk to the government to see how those who were always sick could get free medical services.

The KDCCE facilities are housed in repurposed shipping containers.

Every Tuesday, the KDCCE hosts gatherings from 9am to 1pm, where senior members engage in a range of social and educational activities.

Members learn how to grow vegetables and herbs in the compound’s small garden.

AARP What steps did you take to help grow your program?

AK I approached HelpAge Kenya and visited their office. They were amazed. “An Older People’s Project?” they asked. I said, “Yes!” They came, saw the older people, and they supported us for one year with the feeding program. At that time, we would get food to cook and also bring other items for them to take home. The project started growing and we had a committee. We divided tasks among ourselves, visiting different areas.

Through HelpAge Kenya and HelpAge International, we started an “Adopt a Grandma” activity. Through this, 75 of our older persons were adopted, where they were given small money for their upkeep. Others could open businesses with this money. When that program ended, we wanted to continue.

My vision was not just for that project; my vision was to see my government do something for the older persons. We teamed up with other community-based organizations, in Kibera and elsewhere, to request our government to give some support to these older people, because they have worked for this country. They made the country what it is. Why can’t they be given a small token of appreciation? And that’s how the government started giving cash transfers to the older persons, which was the Inua Jamii 70+ program. At the Kibera Day Care Centre, our work is to mobilize and inform the older persons who have reached the required age to receive the cash.

AARP What did you find were some of the main challenges facing older people?

AK In the meetings, the older persons would tell us how they were being abused by their children, family members, or even the community. They were seen as people who didn’t know anything. So, we did capacity-building to tell them, “It is your right.” They have a right to be treated like others.

Over the years, we have been advocating for the government to give the older persons the same opportunities as others. Now, at least, they know their rights; they know when they are being abused. We have also started intergenerational dialogue between the old and the young because young people did not always respect the old ones. When the older persons meet, we invite some youth, so they can have a discussion.

The morning starts with a group exercise class to promote healthy habits.

AARP Why did you choose social work?

AK Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. I liked supporting others, even the children at school. When I chose my career, I found that this was the best fit for me. I can say it’s God who chose it for me. Then, when I got my first job to work in the community, it gave me exposure. I really wanted to see people being supported in many areas.

AARP Why did you choose to work with older people specifically?

AK When I was working for KWAHO, I was working with women and youth on sanitation programs. That’s when I would meet the older people. They could see me in meetings and daily in the villages. Older persons often don’t want to speak up. But a number of them would talk to me, tell me their challenges, what they are going through. I realized a lot of older people are passing through a lot of challenges. Who is going to hear their plight? Who is going to advocate for them? And then, my God spoke to me. “Here is a group being neglected. I have chosen you to do something for them.” And it continued from there. I really love working with them, listening to them.

AARP What is the largest hurdle facing your organization?

AK Finances. When we go for home visits, we can’t go empty-handed. We need to carry something, even if it’s just a packet of milk. When we see the situation, we might end up paying for medicine for them. Sometimes, when one is admitted to the hospital, we have to ask friends for help to pay the bill. We have the medical cover, the National Insurance Fund, but not all older people can afford it unless they have family support. Also, we have to maintain our office. We pay for electricity, water, Wi-Fi. Right now, we don’t have steady funding. The volunteers here spend their own money to support this work because they love helping the older people.

AARP How do you keep finding the energy to keep going?

AK Let me tell you, I am approaching 68 years. When I tell people my age, they say, “No, you look about 50!” I feel good because whenever you support someone and see them succeed, God gives you more years. My dad is 102 years old, and he was the one who used to support me when I started this work. Now, he is benefiting from this project. When I go home, he always asks, “Are you still supporting the older people?” I believe in helping others. It adds more life.

Alice Nyakinyua, 74, teaches adult literacy classes at the Centre.

Yasmin Abdulrahman, 49, handles the organization’s finances.

A selection of resources used to teach classes on literacy, technology, and finance.

Tifina Kasiti, 69, prepares meals for the weekly gatherings.

AARP What advice do you have for people trying to build a program like this?

AK Listen, it is up to the entire community to work together. What should we do for older persons? We embrace them, we love them. We provide whatever we can for them. Just give to them. Don’t keep resources for yourself when there is suffering. So, we the community, all the NGOs, we who are working for the government, let us really sympathize with them. Let us provide whatever little one has just to make even a meal for them.

AARP How do you feel about what you’ve achieved so far?

AK I feel good that I’ve achieved something, especially when it comes to addressing loneliness and isolation. Whenever you visit someone, you talk to that older person and encourage them to step out of that isolation. Sometimes, it’s as simple as talking to their family, helping them understand the need to let the older person come out and join others. I’ve done this, and it works — they come out and forget what they were going through when they see the others.

AARP What are your plans for the future?

AK Now, the world is changing and technology is everywhere. The older people have phones, but most of them only use them to receive calls. They can’t send messages or do other things. I hope I can get some donations to start a class for IT, where older persons can be taught how to use a phone or a laptop.

Right now, we rely on support from HelpAge Kenya, but my dream is to make the Kibera Day Care Centre self-sustaining. I want to start an income-generating activity. Maybe we can buy some rental houses, which can provide funds to run the office and support the older people who need it. In the long run, my wish is to have a farm outside of Kibera for the elderly. If I can get a farm, I would construct houses where the very needy ones — those who have no one to take care of them — can live. It breaks my heart to see an old man or woman sleeping outside. I want to give them a place where they can be safe and cared for. ●

Agnes Kariuki

It is with deep sadness that we mark the passing of Agnes Kariuki, founder of Kenya’s Kibera Day Care Centre for the Elderly (KDCCE) and a tireless advocate for the rights of older persons. Through her sheer force of will, Agnes transformed countless lives in Kibera and beyond.