PROMOTING ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR THE POOR AND MARGINALIZED - 2022 ANNUAL REPORT

General

PROGRESS TOWARDS OUTCOME 2: enHANCED COMMUNITY EMPOWERMenT TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Other

PROGRESS TOWARDS OUTCOME 3: CAPACITY OF PRISON AND COMMUNITY PARALEGALS TO PROVIDE LEGAL AID STRenGTHenED

Target Groups

Kituo cha Sheria –Legal Advice Centre (hereinafter referred to as “KITUO”) is dedicated to empowering disadvantaged and marginalized individuals in Kenya by ensuring their effective access to justice and the enjoyment of their human rights. Its comprehensive range of initiatives includes in-house legal aid services, legal education and clinics, public interest litigation, research, advocacy, networking, community outreach, mobilization, and the empowerment of communities through paralegal training and connection to formal legal services. KITUO’s key areas of focus encompass land rights, labour issues, housing, succession, forced migration, and broader human rights concerns. KITUO aims to empower impoverished and marginalized communities in exercising their human rights while creating pathways for efficient access to justice. KITUO possess extensive experience in implementing projects within the prison system, enhancing access to justice within the criminal justice framework, and alternative justice systems. During the reporting period, KITUO successfully implemented activities supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy. The project aimed to strengthen access to justice for the poor and marginalized, employing various means such as legal aid provision through the MHAKI SMS platform, legal aid clinics, capacity building for community and prison-based paralegals, outreach efforts, advocacy for pro-poor policies, and public interest litigation. With the support of the Netherlands Embassy, KITUO significantly enhanced access to justice for the poor and marginalized. Trained paralegals and prison officers played a crucial role in this achievement, resulting in the acquittal of over 800 inmates and the issuance of non-custodial sentences for 700 individuals. This success contributed to the decongestion of correctional facilities, alleviating overcrowding and improving the living conditions for the remaining inmates. Additionally, the project facilitated expedited processing of cases within the prison justice system, as the trained individuals possessed a better understanding of legal procedures, enabling them to navigate the system more efficiently and ensure timely resolution of legal matters. To ensure the program's sustainability, the Training of Trainers (TOT) approach was incorporated. This equipped 275 community paralegals with training skills, enabling them to train others in the future and disseminate information to community members. In 2022, more than 1,000 cases in the target regions were handled at the grassroots level through the community justice centers. Legal aid provision through clinics and the MHaki SMS platform reached over 2,000 people. Furthermore, community radio broadcasts reached an impressive audience of more than 3.6 million people. The findings and lessons learned from this project will guide future initiatives focused on strengthening access to justice and promoting legal empowerment for disadvantaged individuals in Kenya. The partnership between Kituo Cha Sheria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy has played a vital role in supporting these endeavours and will continue to be instrumental in driving positive change in the justice sector. Dr Annette Mbogoh, Executive Director, Kituo Cha Sheria- Legal Advice Centre