Pro Bono Legal Aid in Embu County

On 18th July 2015, SOKLaw held a lawcamp in Embu County in collaboration with the community leaders comprising of the Embu Council of Elders known as 'Nyangii Ndiiriri". The lawcamp sought to provide pro bono legal services to the poor and marginalized community and was a huge success with over 500 people visiting the camps.

There were two camps held in Kairuri and Runyenjes grounds in Embu. The camps were led by the SOKLaw Partners, Mr Sospter Opondo and Ms Faith Simiyu. Amongst the panel of lawyers that assisted in the lawcamp were Gilbert Omware, Jimmy Barasa, Shirley Genga, Zack Alakonya and Vincent Ombaka. The panel of lawyers were mentored lawstudents drawn from various  law schools in Kenya include University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University, African Nazarene University just to anme a few.The lawstudents were trained and engaged in first-hand experience in providing legal advise.

A key emerging issue during the law camp, was the lack of legal knowledge on land and land related rights which in turn affected the ability of community members to know and reclaim their lands. Accordingly, SOKLaw is undertaking follow-up on needy cases and has prepared various legal opinions that have succesfully enabled the litigation of contentious issues. It is expected that the Council of Elders will take up the role of adjudication upon the succesful conclusion of the exercise.