Legal Aid and Empowerment Programme
Goal: To enhance access to justice for vulnerable and marginalized communities by providing quality legal aid, rights education, and legal empowerment initiatives that strengthen their capacity to claim and defend their rights.
Access to legal aid and empowerment in Kenya faces several significant challenges, including inadequate funding for legal aid services, lack of awareness about legal rights, and geographical barriers. One of the major impediments to access to justice and legal services is the issue of poverty. A majority of Kenyans, due to an array of reasons, including socio-economic, legal and political factors, are unable to access justice. Exorbitant legal fees, to the exclusion of the poor from mainstream political processes, undermine their ability to compete effectively in an adversarial justice system. The indigent remain unaware of their legal rights, lack knowledge of the court system, or simply experience unending frustrations while seeking to access justice.
KITUO continues providing legal representation; assistance in resolving disputes by alternative dispute resolution; effecting service incidental to any legal proceedings; and reaching or giving effect to any out-of-court settlement. KITUO enhances awareness creation through the provision of legal information and law-related education, recommends law reform and undertakes advocacy work on behalf of the community. KITUO facilitates access to justice for those who cannot afford legal representation to enforce or claim their rights. Under the legal aid and empowerment programme, core activities include: provision of legal services to walk-in clients, as well as through mobile legal aid clinics country-wide. The programme also undertakes the training of community groups and paralegal officers in efforts to enhance their capacity in legal aid work.
