The Ethel Foundation for the Aged (EFA) honoured over 1,000 older persons at Ahero Parish in Kisumu County on Friday, 31 July 2026, providing grooming, wellness, food and household support to mark the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. The celebration also drew government officials, clergy, religious, healthcare providers, civil society organizations and members of the public, reaffirming the Church’s call to honour older persons as treasured members of families, communities and the Body of Christ.
The celebration was organized by EFA, a Kenyan Catholic organization dedicated to the dignity and wellbeing of older persons, in partnership with Ahero Parish, the Redemptorist Solidarity Office (RSO) and a broad coalition of Church institutions, community organizations, schools and private-sector partners. It was held under this year’s global theme, “I Will Never Forget You” (Isaiah 49:15), established by Pope Francis in 2021 to honour the wisdom and contribution of older persons while calling communities to accompany those who often face loneliness, neglect and poverty.
The older people received grooming and wellness services provided by Nyando Technical College, before the celebration which centred on the Holy Eucharist. The liturgy, homily and remarks reminded participants that older people are not merely recipients of care but custodians of faith, memory and culture, whose presence remains an indispensable gift to Church and society.
The main Celebrant at mass was the Archbishop of Kisumu, His Grace, the Most Reverend Maurice Muhatia Makumba, and co-celebrated by Monsignor Luciano Labanca, COREAM Coordinator Fr. Noel, Redemptorist priest and the clergy from the diocese. In attendance were also other religious including Brothers and Sisters from different congregations. The event was graced by diverse audiences from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the EFA Board, the local community, and partner organizations. This was a true show of commitment to the dignity and wellbeing of older people.
Cultural performances and fellowship followed before humanitarian assistance was distributed to vulnerable older people. In all, more than 1,000 older people received one or more of the day’s services, which included grooming and wellness checks to food and household support. Through the generosity of donors including Saqoon, Indomie, CPF, Rotary Club – Naivasha, parish communities, and private well-wishers, the older persons received food, toiletries, clothing, blankets and assistive devices including walking frames, crutches and wheelchairs. This assistance was made possible by close collaboration between Ethel Foundation with Ahero Parish, Nyando Technical College and a wide network of parish, civil-society and private-sector partners.
The celebration also carried an advocacy message. It reaffirmed the rights of older people to dignity, healthcare, protection from neglect and meaningful participation in community life. Youth volunteers were especially visible, assisting with registration, hospitality and the distribution of relief items which are an embodiment of the intergenerational solidarity at the heart of the day.
The celebration strengthened partnerships, raised public awareness of ageing issues and deepened collaboration between Church, government and community organizations. Looking ahead, EFA announced plans to develop a Caregiver Training Centre on its five-acre property to help address Kenya’s shortage of qualified caregivers and strengthen the country’s emerging care economy, while noting logistical challenges including transport for frail older persons and an overwhelming turnout that exceeded projections. This event was by all means a learning curve to consider in future celebrations.
As the day came to a close, it left a lasting message: Caring for older persons is more than an act of charity, it is a witness to the Gospel, affirming that grandparents and older persons remain cherished members of God’s family whose faith, resilience and wisdom continue to enrich communities.
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/live/9ZrWbv4kp5M?si=5inqByhp0ny_iEoO
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Website: www.ethelfoundation.or.ke
