Access to Justice and Legal Aid delivery

Implemented with support from Charles Stewart Mott Foundation through in collaboration with Legal Resources Foundation (LRF)
Since 2011, RODI has been in the front-line line in legal aid delivery and promotion of human rights for indigent
and vulnerable persons within the Kenya Criminal Justice System. The legal aid delivery involves conducting legal
aid clinics and  and awareness to pre-trial detainees in remand centres and communities around them. The legal aid
includes offering Legal Advice, Legal Awareness, campaigns and outreach programmes, Alternative Dispute
Resolution among other areas of legal aid services. This is done through rendering basic legal advice to the inmates,
making necessary follow up to courts, police, probation, pro-bono lawyers and other justice actors to ensure cases
are moving, their welfare issues are addressed and human rights standards are adhered to.

The initiative aims at enhancing access to justice, by promoting access to legal aid and assistance for pre-trial
detainees and local communities in focus counties, while engaging national and county duty bearers on policy and
legislative development to facilitate and amiable operational environment.

RODI also involved in lobbying and advocating for policy review/law reform such as in decriminalizing of petty and
state regulatory offences to reduce the high rate of arrest and detention of persons within such regulations. In this
regard, RODI is a member of the NCAJ Committee on Criminal Justice Reform (NCCJR) whose mandate is to
spearhead the comprehensive review and reform of Kenya’s entire Criminal Justice System, and to oversee the full
implementation of the findings and recommendations of the Criminal Justice system in Kenya: An Audit. RODI also
works closely with state and non state agencies to complement and support the initiatives aimed at addressing access
to justice, fair trial and human rights issues.

The  interventions aim to contribute to promotion and/or protection of human rights by addressing criminal justice
and human rights issues relating to the right to fair trial and due process, the right to liberty and advocating for
policy review in the administration of justice and human rights sector.

The interventions are directed towards contributing to sustainable development goal 16 –in promoting peaceful and
inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective accountable
and inclusive institutions at all levels. RODI access to justice work is implemented through 4 key approaches:
 Advocacy and policy review to provide a guide in legal aid delivery.
 Rights based approach by ensuring that people’s rights are realized as per the Constitution of Kenya 2010
bill of rights, domestic laws and international standards
 Paralegal approach by involving trained paralegals with basic legal knowledge and skills used to provide
legal aid and education
 Sustained partnership approach by focusing on cementing partnership with both state and non-state actors
in the administration of justice sector
The initiative anticipates the following outcomes towards realisation of A Justice sector that  is just, inclusive, and
responsive yet promotes, protects respects, and fulfills fundamental rights and freedoms:
 A Strong justice sector that is accessible, efficient, responsive & protects the rights of all especially the
Vulnerable
 Empowered and Informed citizens that self mobilize to claim their rights and freedoms
 Strengthened and well-coordinated CSOs & CSO’s network leading evidence-based advocacy and
delivering their oversight role