Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is in the process of establishing a Centre for Healthy Ageing (CEFHA), which will be anchored to the department of Rehabilitation Sciences under the College of Health Sciences (COHES).
The initiative, in partnership with the Kenya’s State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, is a first of its kind among universities in Africa, and aims at addressing challenges faced by the elderly, among them abuse and health issues.
This will be through evidence-based research, collaboration, training, networking, and partnership with various stakeholders.
As explained by Dr. Daniel Nyamongo, Coordinator of CEPHA, Senior Lecturer, and Epidemiologist in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, ageing has become an emerging issue of concern for several reasons.
One major factor is the global demographic shift. On one hand, there has been a steady increase in life expectancy, now averaging around 80 years globally, largely due to advances in healthcare, medical technology, and improved public health systems. On the other hand, declining fertility rates have resulted in a smaller proportion of young people within the population.
Additionally, rural-to-urban migration in search of jobs and better economic opportunities has left many elderly people in rural areas isolated and without
adequate care from younger family members. With development efforts concentrated in urban centers, the ageing population often faces limited access to age-friendly infrastructure and services such as roads, housing, transportation, and healthcare.
The long-held desire to establish a Centre for Healthy Ageing at JKUAT moved a step closer to realization during the initiative’s second meeting held at the University on Wednesday, October 23, 2025. The session brought together a multidisciplinary team from JKUAT and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to share perspectives on how to achieve this goal.
During the meeting, the Principal, College of Health Sciences (COHES), Dr. Reuben Thuo, reaffirmed JKUAT’s commitment to convening experts from diverse fields to address this emerging national priority.
“I am glad to see that there is a growing need to shift focus from infectious diseases, as they have traditionally received more attention to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which are increasingly associated with ageing populations. Currently, our population pyramid is broad at the base, representing a younger population, and narrow at the top, but this is changing. We must be prepared to respond to the health and social needs of an ageing population,” said Dr. Thuo.
In his remarks, Mr. Peter Ochieng, Director for Social Development at the Ministry, commended the initiative as timely, noting that it will help facilitate a smooth transition from active work life to life after retirement. He was accompanied by his Deputy, Ms. Jane Ongachi, and the Assistant Director, Ms. Julie Omolo.
Ms. Ongachi appreciated the wealth of expertise brought by JKUAT and emphasized that the initiative aligns closely with the Ministry’s programs and targets on senior citizens’ affairs, in which Dr. Nyamongo has been a dedicated and active contributor.
The JKUAT team comprised Dr. Mwangi Matheri, Dr. Wilkins Ndege, Mr. Daniel Kariuki, Ms. Caroline Mwangi, and Mr. Ronald Nyawade (all from the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences); Prof. Micah Makworo (Landscape Architecture); Prof. Thomas Ngigi (Geomatics and Geospatial Engineering); Prof. Fred Wamulokoli (Biochemistry); Dr. Musa Mohammed (Surgery); Prof. Drusilla Makworo (Nursing); and Dr. Philip Oyier (Information Technology).
The team also included Dr. Joyce Nzulwa, a Social Scientist and expert in Human Resources, Leadership, and Governance, who was recently recognized as a National Hero by President William Ruto during the Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20, 2025, for her outstanding contributions to human rights advocacy.
Dr. Nyamongo is optimistic that the initiative will lay a strong foundation for training in Geriatrics and Gerontology, thereby building capacity on how to care for the ageing population. He noted that these courses are largely absent from healthcare curricula across African universities, despite the rapid and exponential increase in the elderly population.
The two teams are expected to work towards a Memorandum of Understanding in the coming weeks.
