Legal Representation is fundamental to protecting individual rights and ensuring a fair hearing as per Article 50 of the Constitution. Nevertheless, vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities (PWDs), remain disproportionately excluded from representation. This is attributed to systematic ableism, lack of resources and inaccessibility of the justice system despite the enactment of the Legal Aid Act.

Access to justice is an essential element of the rule of law and democratic governance.^[1] A just system can only function effectively when individuals are able to seek remedies for violations of their rights regardless of their economic or social status.

The Legal Aid Act (No. 6 of 2016) lists stateless persons among those entitled to state-funded legal aid. However, the Legal Aid (General) Regulations (No. 86 of 2022) require every applicant to produce payslips, tax returns, and asset records before their application can be considered. Stateless persons, such as the Nubian community in Kenya, who often live outside the formal systems that generate these documents, find it impossible to meet these requirements.

“Ignorance of the law is not a defence to me, doesn’t make sense. The Accused should know what they have been accused of and how they are going to defend themselves when they appear in court.”^[1]

Three months ago, the Centre for Legal Aid and Clinical Legal Education (CLACLE), Kabarak University Law Clinic, issued a Call for Submissions for the CLACLE Blog Symposium 2026: Legal Aid Act @10 – Successes, Challenges, and the Future of Access to Justice in Kenya.^[1]

We are proud to celebrate a major international achievement by our School of Law after securing a place among the Top 24 Qualifying Teams advancing to the Advanced Rounds of the prestigious Nelson Mandela World Human Rights Moot Court Competition.