Building Age-Friendly Communities Through Road Safety Awareness in Naivasha
In many communities across Kenya, bodaboda riders serve as a critical transport link for older persons accessing hospitals, markets, places of worship, and social services. Despite this important role, conversations around road safety and age-sensitive transport practices for older adults remain limited.
To address this gap, Ethel Foundation for the Aged recently conducted a community sensitization and engagement session with the bodaboda community in Naivasha, focusing on road safety and the dignified handling of older persons during transportation and community interaction.
The initiative brought together riders for practical discussions on:
- Safe riding practices when transporting older passengers
- Assisting older persons during boarding and alighting
- Respectful communication and patience
- Understanding age-related mobility and health challenges
- Emergency responsiveness and referral awareness
- The role of transport providers in community protection systems
Why This Engagement Matters
Older persons often face significant mobility barriers, especially in rapidly growing urban and peri-urban communities where informal transport systems dominate. Challenges such as hurried transport interactions, unsafe riding practices, poor road conditions, and limited awareness of elder care can expose older adults to injury, neglect, and social exclusion.
By equipping bodaboda riders with practical knowledge and community care principles, the program sought to strengthen local protection systems while promoting safer and more inclusive transport environments.
The engagement also recognized bodaboda riders as key community actors whose daily interactions place them in a unique position to support the wellbeing, dignity, and safety of older persons.
An Approach to Community Protection
The initiative was informed by the Person-In-Environment Theory, a core framework that emphasizes how an individual’s wellbeing is shaped by their surrounding environment, relationships, and social systems. Supporting older persons therefore requires not only addressing individual needs, but also strengthening the responsiveness of communities and service systems around them.
Additionally, the program incorporated the Strengths-Based Approach by acknowledging the bodaboda sector as an existing community resource capable of contributing positively to social protection and public safety efforts.
Rather than viewing riders solely through the lens of transport, the initiative positioned them as:
- Community caregivers
- Safety advocates
- Frontline responders
- Partners in social inclusion
Towards Age-Friendly Communities
As Kenya continues to experience demographic shifts and increased urbanization, there is a growing need for age-friendly community systems that protect the dignity and participation of older persons.
Road safety is not only a transport issue; it is also a social protection and public health concern. Creating inclusive communities requires collaboration between civil society organizations, transport sectors, local leadership, healthcare systems, and citizens themselves.
Ethel Foundation for the Aged remains committed to advancing programs that strengthen community responsibility, promote dignity for older persons, and build practical local solutions for healthy ageing.
We appreciate the Naivasha bodaboda community for their participation, openness, and willingness to champion safer and more compassionate community practices.
Together, we can build communities where older persons move safely, live with dignity, and remain fully included in society.
