On the 21st of February, the Criminal Justice Unit of the Strathmore Law Clinic had the privilege of visiting Muranga Prison in a collaborative initiative with Daystar University’s Law Clinic and Justice Defenders.

The facility hosts a total of 725 inmates, and the clinicians were able to engage and interact with 300 inmates; 250 men and 50 women. The visit was a significant step towards bridging the gap between legal education and access to justice for individuals navigating one of the most consequential experiences of their lives. 

Prior to the visit, our clinicians worked under the guidance of Ms Josephine Kairo, whose mentorship and expertise brought depth and direction to the session. Under her guidance, the clinicians covered the trial process in a structured and practical manner, which served as a refresher on the legal process itself as well as ethical practices to be adopted during the visit. This reinforced clinician preparation and the ability to give targeted responses to inmate concerns. 

The team engaged with both the men’s and women’s sections of the prison to ensure that remandees across the facility had an opportunity to benefit from the visit. The centrepiece of the visit was the conduct of mock trials covering two distinct offences: a sexual offence and stealing by a servant. These simulations were carefully chosen to reflect the nature of cases that remandees in the facility mostly face, which made the exercise immediately relevant and practically useful. For the remandees, the mock trials offered a rare and invaluable opportunity to understand the procedure, terminology, and expectations that will govern their day in court. With this clearer picture of what to expect, we are hopeful that they will be able to engage more meaningfully with their legal representation. 

Following the mock trial simulation, we moved into one-on-one consultations. This allowed us to dive into the “nitty-gritty” of individual cases and offer personalised legal aid. Using our case uptake forms, we identified seven cases for potential pro bono representation by our advocates. Because we had already built a strong rapport during the mock trial, the inmates felt comfortable opening up. For those whose cases we couldn’t formally take on, due to missing documentation, we provided practical legal advice to empower them to represent themselves more effectively. 

To ensure no one was left unheard due to time constraints, we held a spirited general Q&A session. Guided by Justice Defenders, inmates asked about procedural errors and potential grounds for

rebuttal. This session was particularly impactful as many realised that they were facing similar legal hurdles, allowing us to address common grievances collectively. 

The day took a warmer, communal turn as we shared lunch with the female inmates. Following Daystar University’s “Chapo na Law” mantra, students from both Strathmore and Daystar helped prepare and share a hearty meal. In keeping with the African tradition of never visiting a home empty-handed, we also presented donations collected prior to the visit. These supplies were gratefully received, marking a meaningful conclusion to our time at the prison. 

Visits like these serve a dual purpose that lies at the heart of clinical legal education and the work we do at the Strathmore Law Clinic. They offer clinicians hands-on exposure to the real-world legal contexts that no classroom can fully replicate, all while extending the reach of legal knowledge to those who need it the most. We look forward to continuing and deepening this work, in partnership with institutions such as Daystar Law Clinic and Justice Defenders to advance access to justice in Kenya.

By Anisa Mohamed