The Nakuru Legal Aid Centre – NLAC @4 - Center for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance

. cedgg / September 22,2025

Access to justice in Kenya is a constitutional right under Article 48 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, yet for many citizens, this right remains out of reach. High legal costs, case backlogs, lack of awareness, and geographical barriers continue to lock out vulnerable groups from the justice system. It is against this backdrop that the Nakuru Legal Aid Centre (NLAC) was established on 22nd September 2021 by the Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance (CEDGG), with support from the European Union through the UNDP–Amkeni Wakenya Project under the PLEAD Program.

Four years later, NLAC stands as a beacon for communities in Nakuru County and beyond, offering free legal aid services, creating awareness of rights, and promoting fair access to justice.

Why NLAC Was Established

For years, access to justice in Kenya has been riddled with challenges. A national governance survey revealed that while 67.7% of Kenyans know where to report crimes, less than half (46.2%) believe they can access courts easily. Litigation costs remain prohibitive for 76% of citizens, and only 30% have access to legal representation.

In Nakuru County, these challenges are magnified by rapid urban growth, interethnic conflict, and rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The Gender Recovery Centre in Nakuru receives more than 100 cases monthly, yet survivors often struggle to secure justice because of poor case handling, weak coordination, or lack of representation. With only three courts serving nearly two million people, case backlogs are severe, and rural residents often lack affordable legal services.

NLAC was created to respond to these gaps, bridging the divide between constitutional promises and lived reality.

Since opening its doors, NLAC has made significant progress:

683 cases handled: 333 involving men, 350 involving women, and 18 involving persons with disabilities.
124 cases resolved through mediation, Alternative Justice Systems (AJS), and court processes.
106 cases referred to relevant institutions for action.
453 cases ongoing, reflecting the steady demand for legal aid.

Beyond numbers, NLAC has:

Built a strong network of partners including the Judiciary, Law Society of Kenya, National Legal Aid Service (NLAS), IPOA, and EACC.
Promoted AJS, bringing dispute resolution closer to communities.
Strengthened referral systems and established a clear strategic vision.
Positioned itself as a voice in policy discussions on access to justice in Kenya.

NLAC’s journey has not been without challenges. Systemic delays in court processes, gaps in legal knowledge, poverty, and unrealistic client expectations remain barriers. Yet these challenges have shaped important lessons:

The need for continuous legal awareness campaigns.
The importance of client-centered approaches in case management.
The value of decentralized services, taking legal aid closer to rural communities.
The role of technology in strengthening referral networks and information sharing.

The story of NLAC is one of resilience and impact. Over the past four years, the Centre has proven that free legal aid services in Kenya are not just about legal representation, they are about dignity, empowerment, and equality before the law.

Every statistic reflects a human story: the woman who finally found protection after years of abuse, the child whose rights were safeguarded, and the communities that discovered justice is not the preserve of the wealthy.

As NLAC reflects on its journey, the commitment is clear: justice for the vulnerable is justice for all. The Centre will continue to expand awareness, strengthen partnerships, and bring services closer to those who need them most.

Kenya’s Constitution promises justice for every citizen, but achieving it requires more than laws on paper. It requires institutions like the Nakuru Legal Aid Centre that are rooted in the community and committed to closing the justice gap.

At four years, NLAC’s journey is both a reflection and a call to action: to scale up legal aid services, to make them visible and accessible, and to ensure that no Kenyan is denied justice because of poverty or lack of awareness.