Mobility of older people living in Kenyan informal settlements: a case study from Kibera, Nairobi

Keywords: Older people, transport inequalities, mobilities, travel needs, informal settlement, Nairobi
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Significant discussion is happening regarding transport inequalities and poverty of vulnerable groups in African cities. Still, very little has been investigated about older people’s mobility needs, despite the ageing demographic shift that Sub-Saharan African countries are forecasted to experience over the next decade. To gain a deeper understanding of such issue, this study focuses on older people living in Kenyan informal settlements and investigates their options for mobility, activities and locations, barriers, coping strategies and unfulfilled mobility needs. The study employs a qualitative approach comprising four focus groups with 24 participants and a follow-on community engagement workshop with people aged above 50 years old living in the informal settlement of Kibera, Nairobi. The results indicate that older people in Kibera face significant challenges in their everyday mobility. Living with poor health conditions, level of poverty, lack and poor quality of walking infrastructure, personal safety and ageist behaviour are the main factors shaping and affecting their mobility. The community workshop provided an opportunity to engage the participants in discussions regarding transport inequalities and provide their insights to better understand users’ mobility needs and address gaps in research, policies and design solutions. This study is the first attempt to investigate older people’s mobility issues in Kenya, with a specific focus on informal settlements. It establishes a baseline level of knowledge about individual and contextual conditions, needs, opportunities and strategies for mobility during later life and their implication to reduce transport inequalities and poverty in such contexts.