Legal aid to help the poor as government launches initiative

The government on Monday officially launched an action plan on legal aid that they say will be critical to ensuring accessibility of justice to all Kenyans.

Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, Attorney General Githu Muigai said the National Action Plan on Legal Aid, 2017-2022, will provide guidelines for the provision of accessible legal aid in Kenya.

The move, according to the AG, will see a complete paradigm shift in the justice system and streamline accessibility of legal aid to all Kenyans, especially the “poor and the vulnerable.”

“Provision of legal aid as practiced in the country has not had any clear institutional and coordination framework in which to operate, but now state and non-state actors have a framework to provide accessible legal services for Kenyans,” he said.

The chief legal adviser to the government also said that the action plan was meant to facilitate the full implementation of the National Legal Aid and Awareness Policy, 2015 as well as the Legal Aid Act 2016 in line with the Kenyan Constitution, 2010.

“The Constitution obligated the state to ensure access of justice to all persons and to protect the rights of every accused person by ensuring they have a fair trial and an advocate is assigned to them at the expense of the republic,” said AG Muigai.

The AG added that the action plan was also in line with international best practices in the promotion and protection of human rights.

The National Action Plan on legal aid was developed through consultations by the National Legal Aid Service which works under the AG’s office.

NLAS worked closely with state and non state actors that provide legal aid in Kenya so as to formulate the plan.

“Since independence, legal aid has been offered by both state and non state actors, who are our partners.”