By F, KNA
Eldoret residents on Friday benefited from free legal aid services during the Eldoret City Legal Aid Initiative, a programme spearheaded by the Federation of African Law Students (FALLAS Kenya).
The student-led initiative brought together law students from across the country to provide basic legal assistance and sensitise the public on key legal issues.
According to Gisimba Atinga, the Country Director for Kenya at FALLAS, the exercise focused on matters such as sexual offences, family law, inheritance and succession, court processes and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
“We have had a successful day engaging the people of Eldoret on different topics. Some of the beneficiaries even have ongoing court cases, and we were able to offer them legal aid in partnership with other stakeholders,” said Atinga.
The most common issues raised by residents during the event involved land and succession disputes, particularly contested ownership between families. Other concerns included cases of defilement, rape and gender-based violence.
However, Atinga noted that the programme faced challenges in mobilisation and publicity due to limited resources and high costs, which made it difficult for the student-run initiative to reach a wider audience.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Journal 2023 report underscores the urgency of such initiatives, revealing that a significant number of Kenyans struggle to access justice due to the high cost of legal services.
Many citizens, especially in rural areas, either abandon their cases or resort to informal mechanisms because they cannot afford court fees or legal representation.
Against this backdrop, the Federation of African Law Students pledged to continue offering free legal aid across the country to bridge the justice gap and support vulnerable communities.
The FALLAS pledged to continue offering such services across the country to bridge the gap in access to justice, especially for vulnerable communities.
