By Lilian Museka
Embu County, Kenya: Embu County Commissioner Jack Obuo has underscored the government’s commitment to bringing services closer to the grassroots, ensuring that even inmates have access to justice. Commending the paralegal training provided by Crime Si Poa (CSP) to inmates and officers at both Embu Main and Women’s Prisons, he highlighted the impact of the knowledge gained on the broader community.
“The knowledge you’ve gained is your right. Use it to strengthen your case, train others, and make a difference in your community when you’re reintegrated. As a government, our role is to ensure initiatives like this are decentralized to reach the people so that justice is accessible to all. We are very pleased with this partnership with Crime Si Poa,” he stated during the graduation of 51 newly trained paralegals
There was a carnival atmosphere as the 33 inmates (24 male and 9 female) and 18 prison officers from the Embu Command received their graduation certificates. This significant achievement marks a pivotal moment in the CSP journey toward legal empowerment for all under its “Sheria Mashinani” people-centered justice approach.
The transformative two-week training facilitated by legal practitioners as well as the training Director from the National Police Service, Dr. Monica Njoroge saw the participants equipped with vital legal knowledge, enabling them to assist others in navigating the justice system and fostering a collaborative approach to legal empowerment.
Legal consultant at CSP, Ms. Carolyne Njanja, highlighted the importance of providing legal education and resources to the most vulnerable, noting that the program has since established legal support centers and deployed trained paralegals within communities and prisons. “Today’s graduation is a testament to the organization’s dedication to making justice accessible to all,” she said. CSP has since trained a total of 302 paralegals across 6 counties including Nairobi, Kisumu, Kiambu, Kajiado, and Kakamega, with the latest one being Embu.
Senior Sergeant Desmond Mugendi from Embu Main Prison Documentation office noted that the training will change their perspective and make their work easier, especially for inmates unable to represent themselves in court. Similarly, Patrick, an inmate who participated in the training, shared how the experience profoundly impacted his life, helping him understand his constitutional rights and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, which he believes are crucial for society.
Joyce, an inmate from Embu Women’s Prison, expressed her gratitude for the training, stating that it empowered her to understand the law and share this valuable knowledge with others, ensuring that no one remains in the dark about their rights.
Speaking at the event, Vice President of the Law Society of Kenya, Mwaura Kabata, praised the inclusivity of the training, which brought together both inmates and officers, fostering collaboration within the prison community. He urged the new paralegals to utilize their knowledge to help decongest prisons and advocate for justice within and beyond the prison walls. “You are now the champions of access to justice in this institution and beyond,” he stated, encouraging further knowledge pursuit among inmates and sharing of insights among officers.
Crime Si Poa’s Executive Director, Mr. Pete Ouko, expressed gratitude to the Kenya Prisons Department for their support and partnership under the open-door policy, which has been instrumental in rolling out paralegal services in various prisons, with plans to establish a legal support service center in Embu Prison. He emphasized the importance of leaving a lasting impact on people’s lives through legal empowerment.
The graduation ceremony was also attended by SSP Elizabeth Chege, representing the Officer in Charge at Embu Women’s Prison, who stressed the importance of utilizing this knowledge to enlighten others, particularly those in remand. ACP. Horace Chacha, Officer in Charge at Embu Main Prison, lauded the program for contributing to the crime prevention strategy by helping decongest prisons. He urged the new paralegals to identify cases, especially involving children, to ensure they are handled with the care they require under the law.
Mr. Daniel Karuri, Senior assistant director of Public Prosecutions, and regional coordinator of the Lower Eastern Region representing the Director of Public Prosecutions emphasized that their role is to ensure justice is served, not to be adversaries to the accused. “You are now change agents, empowered to bring about change. Do not keep the knowledge to yourselves,” he encouraged the graduates.
Crime Si Poa continues to champion legal empowerment, particularly targeting the marginalized and underserved segments of society. The paralegals are expected to take leading roles as torchbearers of justice, ready to make a difference within their communities and beyond.
