On the 11th of August 2023, BarefootLaw hosted the Justice Innovators Recognition Workshop. The hybrid workshop was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi with an attendance of people whose profiles included representatives from Strathmore University, Advocates of the High Court, and representatives from the Steering Committee on Alternative Justice, among others.
The event celebrated small-scale, grassroots innovators improving the lives of millions in rural and remote areas around the country. At the workshop, it was also explained that the Challenge is part of a larger project aimed at identifying approaches and innovations in the provision of legal services in East Africa and other sub-Saharan countries. As an organisation that aims to empower people with free legal information through the innovative use of digital technology, BarefootLaw intends to recognise other individuals and organisations that have implemented innovative ways of making access to Justice more readily available to individuals and communities in need.
In May 2023, we called for Mombasa, Kajiado, Kitui and Kisumu community justice innovators to apply and be recognised for their impactful work. We received over forty participants, and through a thorough vetting process, six (6) of these were selected for a voting exercise open to the Kenyan public. Voting was indeed carried out via Facebook Polls, SMS, and Microsoft Forms. The six organisations included;
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- The Dispute Resolution Hub ( The DR Hub)– which advocates for access to justice via Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, such as Mediation, Arbitration, Negotiation, Conciliation, and any other out-of-court process. Their work solves two key issues: i) the delayed process in attaining resolution or justice and ii) the high costs associated with litigation or physical dispute resolution avenues. DR Hub accomplishes this by providing online Mediation and Arbitration sessions. This increases access to justice as the disputants can hold online meetings to deliberate and work towards solving their disputes, thus saving time for travel and associated expenses or costs.
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- Sairo Law Global – which conducts Legal education through the YouTube Channel called ” Sairo Law Global”. They divide an area of law into topics and several episodes of short broadcasts where the legal concepts are explained and made easy for the public. They also invite experts on set for every specific area of Law. Based on the feedback collected, Sairo Law Global answers the public’s questions at the end of each ten-part series. The main issue they need to address is ignorance of the Law and processes in addressing legal Issues.
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- Alternative Justice System Kajiado Cosmopolitan – which gives the council of elders and religious leaders a bigger role in the justice system and is aimed at providing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including traditional approaches, as long as they do not contravene the Constitution.
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- Nyando Social Justice Centre– Nyando Social Justice Centre started as a table-banking initiative by women in Nyando Sub-county to support their economic empowerment. Through this, they realised that many of the women were struggling with other forms of violence towards them, hence the need for a justice centre.
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- Muslim Education and Welfare Association (MEWA)– People who use drugs often face barriers In accessing services (most of which they are entitled to). As a paralegal and social worker, Diana at MEWA educates people who use drugs (PWUDs) on their health and human rights through “Know Your Rights” and “Legal Literacy” sessions, how to navigate the criminal justice system and links them to psychosocial support, legal aid clinics, socioeconomic empowerment opportunities, and access to civil documents.
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- Kisumu Mediation Centre– a network of ninety-eight (98) trained mediators who are located outside Kisumu Law Courts. Most of their mediators are based in Kisumu City and its environs and are subscribed to a WhatsApp group for easy and fast communication.
Joan Mati, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, steered the program and insightful conversations as Master of Ceremonies. The guests were welcomed by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer from the Law Society of Kenya, Collins Othiambo, after which Morris Kimuli, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a member of the National Steering Committee on Alternative Justice, delivered a riveting keynote speech. He made compelling arguments in his speech titled “Reality or Mirage? Access to Justice as a Human Rights Imperative,” where he stressed to the participants that “Justice is justice whichever way it is delivered. It only has to meet certain constitutional standards.”
Michael Kwizera, Director of Strategy and Impact, BarefootLawCongratulations to the winners, The Dispute Resolution Hub, Nyando Social Justice Center and Kisumu Mediation Center. They each win One thousand United States Dollars ($1000) to support their work.
The event was closed off by a heartwarming story from the Chief Convenor of Nyando Social Justice Center, Caren Wambui, who, in a teary testimony, revealed that their offices had been burnt following political protests in their area; therefore, the award meant a chance at a fresh start on the work they dearly love- facilitating access to justice.
