Group of elderly people from Meru sues govt for ‘denying’ them monthly stipends

Some of the elderly people who sued the State for failing to register them in the old persons cash transfer programme seen here in the Meru High Court on February 11, 2016. They said they were elderly, poor and without a definite source of income. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • District Social and Development officer Lucy Kirimo is also listed as a respondent in the suit.
  • They said the authorities unconstitutionally refused to register them under the old persons cash transfer programme.
  • They said their rights had been violated since the criteria used to select the elderly and venerable members of the society were not adhered to.

A group of elderly people from Central Imenti in Meru County has sued the government for denying them monthly stipends after rejecting their applications.

The 187 men and women from Mwangathia and Kiija locations aged 65-90 filed a suit against the Gender Cabinet secretary and the Attorney-General at the Meru High Court through Joan Ndorongo and Company Advocates.

District Social and Development officer Lucy Kirimo is also listed as a respondent in the suit.

In a supporting affidavit sworn by Mr Bernard Nkando, 68, the petitioners argue that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Services unconstitutionally refused to register them under the old persons cash transfer programme.

All the petitioners maintain that they are elderly, poor and without a definite source of income.

REGISTERED

“On diverse dates, the petitioners were requested to register themselves through their respective chiefs and community leaders, that they could be considered by the ministry as poor thus deserving protection as envisaged in the Constitution,” read the petition filed before Justice Francis Gikonyo.

“We attended the chiefs’ barazas with a view of registering ourselves but we were turned back on allegations that we were not poor despite meeting the age threshold and ourselves knowing we need the government help,” it read.

The petitioners told Justice Gikonyo they felt that their rights had been violated since the criteria used to select the elderly and venerable members of the society were not adhered to.

Justice Gikonyo said the suit will be heard on March 31.

He also directed that all parties involved file more supporting affidavits.