Disability and Inclusive Development: a Theoretical analysis of The Elderly Disability In Kenya

Global projection for elderly persons for the year 2030 is 1 billion with Africa peaking to 1.6 billion from 1.0 billion in 2010. Advanced age is often associated with disabilities thus challenges activities of daily living. In Kenya like other nations, the elderly are often discriminated and excluded from participating in development programs under different circumstances and situations on the basis of age. Despite these, they are potential and salient contributors to development. In African societies, they play vital roles including care for grandchildren, placate controversies and are custodian of community resources. Preserving and harnessing their talent means complementing community development with optimal aging. It is thus imperative that the inclusion of the elderly in community development be a priority. This paper aim to review the role of the elderly in sustainable community development with a view to advocate for their inclusion in development agendas to realize the Community Based Rehabilitation’s beliefs. A literature search was used to obtain data which was analyzed, and interpreted within study objectives. The findings are that health care and social protection are key factors that influence participation of the elderly in community development and that elderly contribute more to development contrary to popular beliefs.