Thousands of Kenyans unable to hire lawyers to represent them in court are being denied representation due to underfunding of the state’s legal aid initiative. The Conference themed ‘Promoting access to justice through legal aid; Building platforms for the engagement of legal aid networks and the formal justice systems’ brought together delegates from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. The Legal Aid Act enacted in 2016 paved way for the creation of the national legal aid service for the state under the Attorney General’s office to offer affordable, accessible, sustainable, credible and accountable legal aid service to the vulnerable. “Presently, we are in the process of ensuring that the National Legal Aid Service is fully operational. The Legal Aid Act adopts a collaborative approach that brings together both state and non-state actors in a coordinated manner for the delivery of legal aid services to those in need,” Kihara said.

Source: The Star November 05, 2018 18:00 UTC