Josephine Napkonde

Campaigners around the world have been connecting across borders to champion the rights of older people through our Age Demands Action campaign.

A unique dialogue has seen some of our campaigners in Kenya connect with older people in European countries such as the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Ireland. They've been learning about each other's lives and sharing their thoughts on why protecting the rights of older people is so important to them.

Josephine from Kenya is one of the campaigners introducing people to her world. You can also watch other campaigners Paul and Rhoda talk to people in the EU.

You can sign the EU Lead the Way petition, which is calling for the EU, as the world's largest aid donor, to include older people in their development policies and programmes.

You can also add your voice to the conversation by leaving a message for Josephine on this page.

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I was born in 1932 in Uganda. My maternal aunt was working in Kenya as a maid for an Asian family. I was only six-years-old when she took me with her to care for her young child while she went to work.

When the child grew older, I was then taken to be employed in the same place where my aunty worked. I took care of the baby of the Asian family while my aunty did the house work.

Married life: I got married in 1945 to a man from Bungoma and in 1952 we were blessed with a daughter and that is the only child we ever had.

My husband would look for jobs to do especially with the Asian companies, sometimes he got a job then after a while there would no job again. So he kept on moving from place to place in search of something to do to earn him some income. After a while, we moved to a place called Jambo in Eastleigh.

Working life: By now my child had grown and she was old enough so I started looking for a job again and I was ready to work as a house maid so I approached a few Asian families and secured a job with one family. 

I later joined up with a womens group got some money and started selling items at the big market in Kawangware.

I started selling beans, maize, kales, bananas and sweet potatoes. We were also able to send our only daughter to college. She has been working at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

After a while, my husband could not work any more due to his declining energy as he grew older. I was also slowing down due to old age and could not do many activities as before.

A landlord gave me a room to live in with my husband and a relative from my home. As long as I was having this room, we were supposed to make sure the compound and toilets were neat and clean.

Caring for abandoned children: The relative I used to live with later decided to get married. Unfortunately, the marriage did not go well and she had to leave her husband.

She left the marriage with five children and came to stay with me for a while then one day she just never came back, leaving me with her children. There is no one to assist me with this big problem.

Campaigning for older people's rights: During the Age Demands Action campaign march in the streets of Nairobi, I was very pleased to be a part of it.

It made me realise that inspite of all that I have gone through God can still single me out for a greater purpose....to speak to the community and our Government about the problems of older people.

During that time, we had got news of how older people were burnt to death because they were suspected to be involved with witchcraft.

This was very frightening....but I pray that this Government will do something to protect the rights of older people.

Josephine's photogallery

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Comments submitted for this page

• Julian Toni (5th September 2012)

  Thank you Josephine,
  We need more people like you!

• TUMAINI YARUMBA (7th December 2010)

  Josephine i really appreciate what you are doing to the kids,may God bless you abundantly,i think the Governments need to do something for social protection for older people like Josephine and others

• Julie Dickinson (4th October 2010)

  Josephine, you are a rare and wonderful courageous woman. Put on this Earth to show the powerful nature of the real human spirit and soul. My hope is that things get easier for you-but I know that you have in heart everything, that most people unfortunately lack sometimes-true compassion and genuine kindness. Things can change and with constant campaigning the Government can be made eventually to listen. Keep up the good fight, and take care.

• Christine (1st October 2010)

  Best of luck to you and you and your family- hopefully governments and people change to better!