Egerton University trains 40 Nakuru chiefs on legal aid

More than 40 chiefs from six sub-counties in Nakuru have been trained on legal aid in a programme in a bid to ensure residents have easy access to justice.

The administrators from Nakuru West, Subukia, Naivasha, Molo, Bahati and Rongai were trained by Egerton University in a project by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union and a civil society organisation known as Amkeni Wakenya.

Brenda Achungo, Amkeni Wakenya’s Coordination Officer in-charge of the Western region,  said the training is aimed at equipping grassroots administrators with skills that will see them help residents access justice easily.

"The training seeks to ensure community awareness and seamless flow of basic legal aid information. Chiefs play a crucial role in ensuring this information reaches citizens,” she said in Nakuru town on Friday, during a one-day training organised by the university’s Faculty of Law Legal Aid Project. 

"When chiefs understand basic laws relating to human rights, land issues, gender-based violence, succession, women’s rights, governance and implementation of the Legal Aid Act, 2016, they will solve issues affecting their communities better," she added.

Ms Achungo further said that with an understanding of the Legal Aid Act, chiefs will better apply the alternative justice system for the benefit of the communities they serve. 

“Unique problems”

Dr Ruth Aura, Egerton’s Dean of the Faculty of Law, described the training as a game changer as Nakuru has “unique problems”.

“The administrators often face a myriad of problems in their work,” she said.

During the training, the chiefs cited land disputes, gender-based violence, drug trafficking and problems surrounding the sale of illicit brew as some of the key challenges they face.

Dr Aura further said the university is committed to taking the law to the people.

"We want to empower chiefs to have effective problem solving mechanisms to ensure peace in their areas of jurisdiction,” she said, adding the training will also help citizens enjoy their rights and become responsible. 

"When the residents you serve understand their rights, roles and responsibilities, they will obey the law.”

Charles Marube Getanda, Egerton’s Head of Public Law, said that with legal aid skills, chiefs will be able to solve problems without going to court.

“Chiefs will use their barazas to disseminate information relating to legal matters such as land disputes and gender-based violence,” he said.

The UNDP said it will continue to empower more administrators through legal aid training in a bid to ease access to justice.