Kenya mulls partnership with England in free legal aid project

Kenyans are set to benefit from free legal services when the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) seals a partnership with its counterpart in England and Wales.

LSK chairman Eric Mutua said the society has received letters from the Law Society of England and Wales seeking help to implement a sustainable free legal aid programme in the country for the less fortunate.

Mr Mutua, speaking at the opening of Free Legal Aid Week on Monday, added that the LSK Council plans to borrow funds from the International Law Association to help strengthen the programme.

“The Council is meeting on November 3 to talk about borrowing money from the international bar to facilitate the programme. Uganda has made it mandatory and lawyers have to give six hours for pro bono. I believe that is where we as Kenya should aim,” said Mr Mutua.

Mr Mutua backed the Legal Aid Bill, currently in Parliament, arguing that it would enable the law community to give back to the society.

The Bill, if passed into law, will require all lawyers to offer a given number of hours to free legal aid (pro bono) so as to be awarded a practicing certificate.

It will also see the State pay legal costs for accused persons who cannot afford a lawyer, something Mr Mutua believes is the reason for the Bill has stalled in Parliament.

“It has stalled over concern that the cost of good service will be high. Under the law, everyone will have a right to a lawyer, whose fees will be catered for by the State,” added Mr Mutua.

Mr Mutua alongside Chief Justice Willy Mutunga on Monday presided over the launch of the Free Legal Aid Week at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, an annual initiative by the LSK to offer free legal services to the members of the public.

The countrywide exercise will run daily from 9am to 3pm until October 31.