Access to Justice

access to justice

Access to Justice Project

The Access to Justice Project is a strategic initiative aimed at empowering poor and marginalized communities in Kisauni Sub- County with the knowledge and tools necessary to claim and defend their rights. Funded by the European Union under the Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery (PLEAD) II, the project advances inclusive, people-centered justice solutions.

Anchored in the Legal Aid Act, 2016, the project promotes legal empowerment and equitable access to justice for vulnerable populations. It emphasizes community-driven approaches that improve legal literacy, expand legal aid services, and strengthen grassroots justice systems.

Our Focus Areas

Legal Awareness – Raising public understanding of the law, fundamental rights, and justice processes through targeted community outreach and education.
Legal Aid Services – Providing accessible legal advice, assistance, and representation to those unable to afford legal support.
Community-Based Justice – Promoting timely and culturally appropriate dispute resolution through Alternative Justice Systems (AJS).
Referral Pathways and Coordination – Strengthening linkages among justice sector actors to ensure efficient and high-quality legal aid service delivery.

Our Approach: People Centered and Paralegal Led

At the core of our model is a community paralegal approach, designed to demystify the law and extend access to justice at the grassroots. Trained community paralegals serve as the first point of contact, providing accurate legal information, preliminary advice, and guidance in ways that are accessible, culturally relevant, and responsive to community needs.

Where appropriate, this model is complemented by strategic litigation and public interest legal interventions to challenge systemic injustices, influence jurisprudence, and advocate for reforms that uphold marginalized populations’ rights.

By integrating legal empowerment with broader community development, the project works toward a society where justice is accessible, inclusive, and responsive, one in which every individual, regardless of socio-economic status, can seek redress, assert their rights, and participate meaningfully in the justice system.

Key Milestones

Established a Community Justice Centre in Kisauni Sub-county.
Reached over 1,200 community members through legal awareness forums and sensitization barazas, deepening understanding of legal rights and justice processes.
Supported over 150 legal aid cases via structured clinics, paralegal referrals, and legal representation.
Conducted more than 15 legal aid clinics, providing free legal advice and assistance to underserved populations.
Trained and certified 7 community paralegals as professional mediators, enhancing local dispute resolution capacity.
Established and equipped 7 Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committees, delivering accessible, culturally appropriate justice mechanisms within communities.
Facilitated more than 15 ADR sessions, resolving land, family, and tenancy disputes effectively and community led.
Strengthened referral and coordination systems with police stations, chiefs, probation officers, courts, and other justice actors, reducing case backlogs and improving service delivery.
Delivered community advocacy and self-representation training, empowering various groups to assert their rights and navigate justice processes confidently.
Fostered strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including the Judiciary, National Legal Aid Service (NLAS), Kenya Prison Service, Probation Department, Public Benefit Organizations (PBOs), National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), supporting holistic and collaborative justice interventions.