Disabled, elderly unable to access courtrooms in Nyeri

Disabled and elderly people are finding it increasingly difficult to access court rooms since an elevator at the Nyeri law courts was grounded.

Many skip court sessions if they cannot get people to help them up the stairs.

The Standard caught up with 62-year-old James Mwangi as he desperately waited for help to get downstairs after attending a court session on the second floor.

Since July last year Mr Mwangi (pictured with guard), who is confined to a wheelchair, has been a regular visitor of the three-storey building.

And just like many other litigants who have land cases, he has to get to the second floor, where the Land and Environment court sits. This has proved an uphill task without an elevator.

Damaris Maina, also confined to a wheelchair, told The Standard she missed the hearing of an important employment and labour dispute on the third floor just because she could not access the courtroom in time.

The two have missed court sessions several times as they have to be carried shoulder high by relatives or well-wishers since the only elevator in the ever busy premises broke down.

A notice pinned on the first floor of the building and signed by the Chief Magistrate Wendy Kagendo, indicates the elevator is out of order.

According to the notice dated October 1, 2018, and addressed to all court users, the malfunctioning of the elevator was caused by a technical hitch.

“Due to technical hitches, the lift shall remain closed until future notice. Kindly bear with us,” the notice reads.

It is not lost on many that the elevator was inaugurated with pomp and much fanfare on June 22, 2016.

Among those in attendance during the commissioning of the lift were Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi.

Also in attendance was former Court of Appeal president and current Attorney General Paul Kihara.

Purity Elderly Care Foundation Executive Director Joyce Wanjiku told The Standard she had been receiving complaints from the elderly saying they were unable to access courtrooms.