Meru villages that hold the secret to a long life

 For decades, a Katheri location in Imenti Central, Meru County, has boasted of having some of the oldest people in the country.

When residents there attend funerals of grannies believed to have lived for over 100 years, it is normally a celebration. The area’s longevity stands out in a county with a life expectancy of 64 years and a national average of 67.

For instance, 71-year-old medic Joel Muthuri’s father died at the age of 105 more than 20 years ago while his mother passed on in 2016 aged 102.

About 500 metres from Muthuri’s Kiathumbi-village home, 100-year-old Esther Nyoroka has 26 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren. Ms Nyoroka’s first born, Salome Nkirote, who lives in Naromoru, in Laikipia County, was born in 1935.

“The year of birth indicated in her ID is 1920 and it was an estimate since we could not trace her colonial ID,” says David Murithi, 59, the last born in a family of four.  She has lost neither speech nor hearing and still remembers the name of her colonial chief.

Cool climate

Dr Muthuri says he talks to several elderly people aged over 100, counselling them and offering tips to their caregivers.

“Katheri has many elderly people because of its cool climate that is not conducive for infectious diseases and there is relatively good access to medical care,” he says.

Dr Muthuri, who has been caring for senior citizens for over 20 years now, says another factor contributing to the longevity is the people’s love for traditional foods.

The medic has built a home for the elderly in memory of his parents and his wife’s late father that will soon start admitting senior citizens for residence and daily care.

“Diet has a lot of bearing on how long one lives because it is the main cause of lifestyle diseases. While taking care of my parents, for instance, I ensured their diet comprised of traditional foods,” says the doctor, a pure vegetarian who does not eat meat and avoids milk and poultry products including eggs.

At 71, he looks more than 10 years younger.

“Family set-up is also key. This is an area that was settled quite early and you will find a family of many generations living together which means that the old people are not lonely since they spend time with their grandchildren,” he says. Mr Murithi, Ms Nyoroka’s son, says taking care of his mother is no mean task.

Ms Nyoroka says the secret to her long life is diet. She eats yams, sweet potatoes, arrow roots, cassava and rice, which are mashed and softened with milk since she is toothless.

Not a lover of tea, her porridge is made from millet and sorghum flour. At her age, she spends most of her days indoors and likes sharing her life experiences with the old and the young.

“My mother is the only one surviving in her generation. I have limited visits and make sure people sanitise and wear masks,” Mr Murithi says.

Limited movement

Mr Murithi, a father of four, says he has also limited his movement and that of his family, including Faith Kendi, a relative who assists him in taking care of his mother so that they don’t expose her to Covid-19.  Mr Muthinja Mathiu, also from the same village and whose mother is 90 years old, says he seldom leaves his home fearing that it would risk her life.

“I only go to the farm and ensure that in don’t interact with other people. I also sanitise every time I come back from the farm,” says the 58-year-old last born in a family of five, adding that his eldest brother died in 2018 aged 74.

However, despite their advanced age, some of the old people in the village don’t benefit from the Sh2,000 monthly stipends.

Mr Murithi says his mother received the money for only two months in 2017 before it was discontinued.

Mr David Gikunda, a neighbour, says two months ago they buried a man who was believed to be 103 years old.

“The government should recognise these senior citizens by taking good care of them,” he says.

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