An undercover investigation by BBC Africa Eye has revealed disturbing mistreatment and neglect of elderly residents at the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Thogoto Care Home for the Aged, located near Nairobi, Kenya's capital.
Secretly recorded footage captured staff physically abusing and caning vulnerable residents, leaving medical conditions untreated, and serving food directly onto tables without plates.
The care home, which was originally established by the Women's Guild of the local PCEA church, is now independently managed and accommodates around 50 elderly men and women.
The investigation highlights the growing concern over the treatment of the elderly in Kenya, as the number of care homes for seniors has almost tripled in Nairobi over the past decade.
Many of these homes operate on donations or are supported by local churches and do not charge rent.
According to projections from the United States Census Bureau, the elderly population in Africa is expected to triple from 75 million to 235 million in the next 30 years, making care homes an increasingly common choice for families.
The shocking footage from Thogoto Care Home showed staff members using physical force against residents, admitting to abusing them, and neglecting their medical needs.
One elderly man with a serious skin condition was denied proper medical attention for weeks, leading to immense suffering.
In response to the exposé, Joseph Motari, the principal secretary for social protection and senior citizens affairs in the Kenyan government, vowed to take action against any private-run homes mistreating elderly individuals.
The care home's manager, Jane Gaturu, denied the allegations of mistreatment and emphasized that the home operates on a voluntary basis, relying on donations.
She refuted claims of neglecting residents in need of medical care and stressed that the home does not tolerate brutality or aggression towards the aged.
The disturbing revelations from the BBC Africa Eye investigation have sparked concerns about the treatment of the elderly in care homes across the region, prompting calls for stricter regulations and accountability to ensure the well-being of vulnerable senior citizens.