Two third-year students at Strathmore Law School were selected to participate in an exchange programme with Notre Dame Law School, further deepening the international partnership between the two institutions. According to the students, what they encountered in the classrooms, the Exoneration Clinic, and in the stories from the prisons of South Bend, Indiana, left a lasting impact on them. It is that very transformation they hope to bring back to the Strathmore Law Clinic and, ultimately, to the Kenyan legal system as a whole.

“We live law everyday”

Musembi and Ahmedin serve as leaders at the Strathmore Law Clinic, a student-led initiative that provides legal knowledge to underserved communities. The clinic is structured into three core units: Human Rights, Entrepreneurship and Criminal Justice. Musembi, coordinates the Entrepreneurship Unit, while Ahmedin heads the Criminal Justice Unit. Together, they form part of a growing movement of young legal minds who see law as a tool for social change.

When asked what drives their interest in the field, Musembi says, “You don’t need to have one particular interest to study law. Every single industry has a legal aspect to it.” He credits the passionate lecturers at Strathmore Law School for anchoring his love of the law.

Ahmedin, on the other hand, brings in a philosophical touch. “The human being is made of three parts: the soul, the body, and the social,” says the reincarnated Socrates. “Religion handles the soul, medicine takes care of the body, and law governs society.” In America, they came face to face with that very society, witnessing the law’s triumphs as well as its most painful failures.

The Exoneration Justice Clinic

At Notre Dame, the two got a chance to work closely with the Exoneration Justice Clinic, a space similar to the Strathmore Law Clinic but with a focus on helping people who have been wrongfully convicted. It investigates, litigates and overturns wrongful convictions, giving law students real-life experience representing individuals who have been wrongly imprisoned. This gives students a perspective into the inner workings and failings of the criminal justice system.

The clinic, however, doesn’t stop at just legal victories. It walks with the exonerated even after freedom. Clients are connected to a network of social support services like education and vocational training, transitional housing, health care services, including mental health counselling, to help them rebuild lives lost to injustice.

Legal Systems, Side by Side

“Before this experience, I knew wrongful conviction was a thing,” Musembi says, “but not to this extent.”

Through a series of lectures, the two began to grasp the devastating toll wrongful convictions take, particularly on people of color.

“Most people think exoneration is a short process,” Ahmedin adds. “But the time, effort, and heartbreak involved in trying to free someone who didn’t commit the crime and who has been forced to live as if they did is overwhelming.”

One case stayed with them. A man was released after serving time in prison, still saying he was innocent. But because he couldn’t legally prove it, he wasn’t exonerated. He left prison, but didn’t have the same rights or support. “It’s like his life was ruined either way,” Ahmedin said.

“With every legal system, there has to be a legal problem and Kenya is no exception,” Musembi says. “The conversation has to start. The life of a prisoner is not something anyone would admire. And if we are going to improve the justice system, especially for those who are incarcerated, we have to begin somewhere,” he adds, his voice tapering off, weighed down by everything left unsaid.

One of the most striking lessons they took from the U.S visit was the complexity surrounding exoneration – the formal absolving of someone wrongly convicted.

In theory, exoneration should restore one’s dignity. In practice, it is far more complicated. Compensation is not guaranteed, and some exonerees leave prison without so much as an apology. Others return to families who, after years of waiting, have either moved on or given up entirely.

“The exoneration process itself is incredibly expensive,” says Ahmedin. “And ten years is a long time. If a family doesn’t see hope in your release, they may stop advocating for you. Some people are completely alone, from another state, with no networks and when they’re released, they have nowhere to go.”

The entire trip, they say, felt like stepping into a different legal multiverse.

One of the first things they noticed and amazed them was the academic structure. In the U.S, law is a graduate degree, pursued after completing an undergraduate program. “There was a slight age gap between us and the American law students,” they recall, “but we were never treated as outsiders. We were basically peers.”

Their visit to the Miami Correctional Facility brought into focus the contrast between the two systems. “The prison was clean, inmates had space and some had TVs,” Musembi says. “Compare that to what we see back home. Overcrowded prisons, poor sanitation, people in remand for six years without trial. That visit made me think deeply about what justice really means.”

The U.S system may be better than ours but it still has its flaws.

“There’s this assumption that the American legal system is perfect, but that’s far from the truth,” Ahmedin says. “One of the most surprising things we learned was that even after exoneration, prosecutors can reinstate charges if the initial trial is deemed procedurally flawed.” He pauses. “You could even be found ‘more guilty’. Imagine being declared innocent and still having to look over your shoulder!”

The Heart in Law

An interaction between Lenora Popken, a seasoned staff attorney at the Exoneration Justice Clinic and an inmate they were visiting, was one very outstanding moment. As she spoke to him, she shed her legal skin and addressed him as human!

“She encouraged him not to give up,” Ahmedin recalls. “She didn’t quote the law. She just showed kindness. That stuck with us. Before being a lawyer, you’re a human being.”

Lenora became more than just a guide – she was a model of what compassionate lawyering looks like. “She was very professional, incredibly knowledgeable and still so deeply human,” Ahmedin says. “Even in formal conversations, we learned just by observing her.”

The same humanity radiated from Professor Jimmy Gurulé, the director of the Exoneration Justice Clinic, a former U.S federal prosecutor and an ally of Strathmore Law School. Known for his humility and warmth, Prof Gurulé became one of their favorite people at Notre Dame. “He’s passionate, kind, and down-to-earth,” Musembi says. “He reminded us that passion is the heartbeat of justice.”

“Find something you care about,” Prof Gurulé told them. “And you will excel.”

The Journey within the journey

Their gratitude extends to Allan Mukuki, Director of Partnerships at Strathmore Law School, whose support helped pave the way for this incredible opportunity. They also thank Patrick Nzomo, Director of the Strathmore Law Clinic, for consistently demonstrating how the law can be used as a tool for societal transformation, and the entire Law Clinic team, whose mentorship and belief in their potential have been a catalyst for their growth.

“If you don’t position yourself for such opportunities,” SB says, “they won’t come looking for you. Everyone at Strathmore is sharp. You’ve got to be sharp too.”

“Be open,” Ahmedin adds. “Don’t be shy. When the moment comes, live in it.”

And above all stay grounded.

“Getting the opportunity doesn’t mean you’re special,” Ahmedin reflects. “It just means someone saw something in you. Be grateful. Be present. Be kind.”

For Strathmore Law School, exchange programmes like these are channels for deep reflection, global exposure and personal transformation.

“This exchange meant the world to us,” says Ahmedin. “Honestly, I was very happy because it was the first time I was travelling outside the country. I saw it as an opportunity to grow and to bring back that growth to improve the Strathmore Law Clinic.”

“It was a competitive process, so I didn’t even put my heart there. I couldn’t believe it. I’ve always wanted to travel and being sponsored by the school made it even more special,” SB adds with a chuckle.

As the two young legal minds return home, they bring back not just memories, but powerful lessons and stories — stories of injustice, resilience, and what the law can become when driven by empathy and courage. This is why Strathmore Law School believes the best lawyers are shaped through global experiences.

To the Exoneration Justice Clinic and Notre Dame Law School, thank you for giving our students not just an experience, but a calling.

Article written by Evans Ijakaa