From Vision to Impact: Ten Years of the Strathmore Law Clinic

As the Strathmore Law Clinic marks ten years since its establishment, the anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the Clinic’s journey, its contribution to access to justice, and its future aspirations. In a conversation with the Vice President of the Strathmore Law Clinic, Ibrahim Ahmedin, we look back on the Clinic’s growth over the past decade, the challenges it has faced and what SLC @ 10 means to the Clinic and to him as a Law Student at Strathmore Law School.

Growth of the Clinic Over the Years

The Clinic has grown significantly since its establishment in 2016. This growth is reflected through the increased number of projects across the three units (Criminal Justice, Entrepreneurship, and Human Rights), the number of clinicians involved, and supervising advocates attached to the Clinic. 

What started as a small clinical programme has developed into a structured student-led platform that provides legal services and experiential learning opportunities.

Challenges along the way

Like many student-led initiatives, the SLC has had its fair share of challenges, particularly financial constraints. When the clinic started, the budget could not sufficiently fund its growing activities. Another challenge was balancing academic responsibilities with clinical responsibilities. 

Despite these challenges, the Clinic has developed ways to mitigate them. The financial constraints have been resolved by developing strong institutional support from Strathmore Law School and by establishing local and international partnerships, such as the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), IMPACT, and Notre Dame Law School, which offer various kinds of support, including financial support.

Additionally, the Clinic’s leadership, particularly the Oversight Board, led by the Faculty Director, Mr Patrick Nzomo, manages budgeting and resource mobilisation. Through their leadership and guidance, the budget has grown significantly over the past ten years and continues to sustain the clinic’s activities. The Steering Committee, on the other hand, supports clinicians’ balance of academic and clinical work through initiatives such as the mentorship programme under the Vice President’s Office and clinician wellness support, facilitated by the Secretary General’s Office.

Clinic’s contribution to access to justice

The clinic’s vision of Access to Justice through advocacy and outreach programmes allows it to serve minority and marginalised communities. These programmes include unit-specific projects such as the prison visits in the Criminal Justice Unit,  cross-cutting projects such as the Wings of Hope project, which conducts donation drives to support young mothers and children at the centre, and the most anticipated, the Annual Legal Aid Caravan, where the SLC visits remote areas of the country to serve minority communities. 

Through these programmes, the clinic bridges the gap between the law and the community members through education while also equipping clinicians with practical skills, such as drafting legal documents. In this way, the Clinic benefits both the community and the students involved.

Ways the SLC has contributed to student life

Reflecting on his own experience, Ibrahim describes the Clinic as central to his professional growth. “First of all, the Clinic has been central to my professional growth, through leadership and practical skills such as drafting legal documents, client interviewing, organising and executing projects,” he says. 

Ibrahim adds that the Clinic has been instrumental in his experiential learning, offering opportunities such as the Exoneration Justice Clinic summer programme at Notre Dame Law School and participation in the Annual Legal Aid Caravan. “Through these experiences, I have visited various parts of the country, including Narok, where I had the opportunity to serve the community,” he says. Beyond the practical exposure, he notes that the Clinic has significantly contributed to his academic growth by equipping him with skills he would not have acquired in the classroom. On a more personal level, the experience has shaped his student life. “The SLC is also a family and has given me new friends. I found a new family through the Clinic,” the Vice President concludes with a smile.

What does SLC @ 10 mean to you personally?

For Ibrahim, SLC @ 10 represents more than just an anniversary. ‘’It is a celebration of vision, growth and resilience, where we celebrate the clinicians, founders, faculty and partners,’’ he says

Future Aspirations

Looking ahead, Ibrahim hopes that in the next ten years the SLC will be registered as a legal entity, allowing it to represent clients directly in court, similar to the Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic.  He also hopes that the Clinic will have sufficient funding and resources to serve communities across the country, with a focus on minority and marginalised groups in Kenya. 

Article Written by: Joy Wahinya and Bakhita Munenge