PROMOTING ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR THE POOR AND MARGINALIZED - 2022 ANNUAL REPORT 1.	EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Kituo cha Sheria –Legal Advice Centre (hereinafter referred to as “KITUO”) is dedicated to empowering disadvantaged and marginalized individuals in Kenya by ensuring their effective access to justice and the enjoyment of their human rights. Its comprehensive range of initiatives includes in-house legal aid services, legal education and clinics, public interest litigation, research, advocacy, networking, community outreach, mobilization, and the empowerment of communities through paralegal training and connection to formal legal services. KITUO’s key areas of focus encompass land rights, labour issues, housing, succession, forced migration, and broader human rights concerns. KITUO aims to empower impoverished and marginalized communities in exercising their human rights while creating pathways for efficient access to justice. KITUO possess extensive experience in implementing projects within the prison system, enhancing access to justice within the criminal justice framework, and alternative justice systems.

During the reporting period, KITUO successfully implemented activities supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy. The project aimed to strengthen access to justice for the poor and marginalized, employing various means such as legal aid provision through the MHAKI SMS platform, legal aid clinics, capacity building for community and prison-based paralegals, outreach efforts, advocacy for pro-poor policies, and public interest litigation.

With the support of the Netherlands Embassy, KITUO significantly enhanced access to justice for the poor and marginalized. Trained paralegals and prison officers played a crucial role in this achievement, resulting in the acquittal of over 800 inmates and the issuance of non-custodial sentences for 700 individuals. This success contributed to the decongestion of correctional facilities, alleviating overcrowding and improving the living conditions for the remaining inmates. Additionally, the project facilitated expedited processing of cases within the prison justice system, as the trained individuals possessed a better understanding of legal procedures, enabling them to navigate the system more efficiently and ensure timely resolution of legal matters.

To ensure the program's sustainability, the Training of Trainers (TOT) approach was incorporated. This equipped 275 community paralegals with training skills, enabling them to train others in the future and disseminate information to community members. In 2022, more than 1,000 cases in the target regions were handled at the grassroots level through the community justice centers. Legal aid provision through clinics and the MHaki SMS platform reached over 2,000 people. Furthermore, community radio broadcasts reached an impressive audience of more than 3.6 million people.

The findings and lessons learned from this project will guide future initiatives focused on strengthening access to justice and promoting legal empowerment for disadvantaged individuals in Kenya. The partnership between Kituo Cha Sheria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy has played a vital role in supporting these endeavours and will continue to be instrumental in driving positive change in the justice sector.

Dr Annette Mbogoh,
Executive Director,
Kituo Cha Sheria- Legal Advice Centre INTRODUCTION 
During the reporting period, KITUO, in partnership with the Netherlands Embassy, implemented interventions that sought to enhance access to justice for poor and marginalized communities in Kenya.  The legal empowerment approaches used in the course of the project involved capacity building of community-based paralegals, provision of direct legal services through the M-Haki platform, legal outreaches and clinics, public interest litigation and advocacy for pro-poor policies and laws.  The project had national coverage with a specific focus on Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale, Nakuru, Nyeri, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Kisumu, Kakamega, Kisii, Taita-Taveta, Vihiga, Turkana and Kitui.

The specific objectives of this project are as follows:

•	To increase access and efficiency of the M-Haki platform. 
•	To increase access to justice for the poor and marginalized through legal aid clinics 
•	To enhance the capacity of community members on different topics of law through an outreach session.
•	To strengthen the partnership between the community paralegals and the volunteer advocates.
•	To develop paralegal priorities for harmonization on grassroots legal empowerment in Kenya. 
•	To examine performance, best practices and monitoring and evaluation solutions.
•	To strengthen the existing partnership between Kituo cha Sheria and justice centres. PROGRESS TOWARDS OUTCOME 1: INCREASED LEGAL AWARENESS OF THE INDIGENT THROUGH THE M-HAKI PLATFORM 1.1 M-Haki Analysis
The analysis includes matters handled and the number of clients attended to through the platform via the primary data source-SMS. KITUO’s target for 2022 was three thousand SMSs sent to the platform through the short code seeking legal advice and legal aid. Throughout the reporting period, the platform received one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four questions. They related to land rights, succession, labour rights, housing and eviction, refugee rights and general inquiries. This number fell short of the target. This can be attributed to limited awareness and outreach. Despite efforts to promote KITUO's platform through community radio talk shows in the target counties, there seems to have been challenges in reaching the intended target audience. Limited awareness among the community members about the availability of the platform could have resulted in fewer questions being received. Additionally, technological barriers that limit access to technology and network connectivity issues could have hindered the ability of individuals to submit questions through the platform. In areas with limited infrastructure or where digital literacy is low, it might have been challenging for potential users to engage with the platform effectively. The platform also faced difficulties in catering to a diverse range of languages spoken by the target audience. Some questions were written in vernacular. While KITUO was able to respond in English or Swahili, these audiences could not respond, effectively cutting off communication.

During the reporting period, it was not possible to generate the data of the number of messages received per month from the month of January to June 2022. This is because Kituo’s partner Occam Technologies, Inc. - the company behind Frontline SMS, shut down on August 31, 2021. Frontline was responsible for the SMS synchronization of messages from the phone 0700777333 to the M-Haki platform www.m-haki.co.ke . It was challenging to get a service provider to offer the synchronization service, in Kenya and Africa. Majority of the technology companies KITUO engaged had little information on how M-Haki technology works.  However, the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) referred us to Utatuzi centre, a company which finally resolved the issue on 21st June 2022 allowing all the pending messages to be uploaded to the platform. 

Month	SMS Messages Received
January - 1091
February	
March	
April	
May	
June	
July	155
August	127
September 	96
October	101
November 	92
December 	112
TOTAL	1774
Figure 2 Number of matters received per month

The new engagement with Utatuzi improved the platform from the use of the mobile phone to link SMS from our users, and instead now linked the service to the cloud where messages are uploaded to the cloud directly, synchronized to the platform and backed up at the cloud as well. This has saved the organization the cost of monthly internet charges that were being incurred. It has also allowed the programme to recover all the messages that were pending in the period of December 2021 to June 2022. Gender disaggregation

In the period 1st January, 2022 to 31st December 2023, the M-Haki platform received 1,774 matters from groups and persons of both genders through the primary data source-SMS. The gender disaggregated data against the category from M-Haki 

The analysis indicates that in 2022, more men engaged with the M-HAKI platform compared to women. It is commonly observed that women may not have the same level of technological know-how as men, which can contribute to the gender disparity in technology usage. To address this issue, there is a need to deliberately target and empower women by providing them with the necessary skills and resources to access and utilize the M-HAKI platform effectively. 

There is a significant disparity with labour rights cases having the largest gap between men and women. This information suggests that women may be reporting fewer land and succession cases on the platform compared to labour-related issues. To address these disparities, it is crucial to promote awareness and educate women about their rights related to land and succession. This can involve conducting targeted outreach programs, providing training and support, and ensuring that women feel empowered and encouraged to report such cases on the M-HAKI platform. Moreover, it may be beneficial to analyze the potential barriers that prevent women from reporting land and succession cases and devise strategies to overcome them, such as addressing cultural norms, providing legal assistance, or offering incentives for reporting.

Overall, a comprehensive and targeted approach is needed to bridge the gender gap in technology usage, encourage women's engagement with the M-HAKI platform, and address the disparities in reporting land and succession cases compared to labour rights.

The analysis reveals that the majority of land inquiries were related to inheritance and land grabbing. Land and succession cases have become a growing thorn in the country as shown from the questions we have received. Majority of the land registries are attempting to digitize their records and we have seen complaints arising from this process. In contrast, when it comes to labor, housing, and eviction questions, the majority of cases involve allegations of unjust termination, employers failing to pay employees, and disputes between tenants and landlords.

During the reporting period, labour rights accounted for 24.6 percent (438) of matters received, land rights at 26.3 percent (468 cases), housing and evictions at 22.8 percent (405 matters) and forced migration and refugee rights questions at 9.4 percent (167 matters).

The ‘general legal inquiries’ category accounted for 16.5 percent (294 SMSs) of the total number received on the platform during this period. Issues received on the platform under this category included, Clients asking for office location, appointments, debt recovery requests, advocates’ conduct questions, delayed court proceedings questions, child support, custody questions and bank loans repayments questions, etc.

During the reporting period, questions were relayed onto the M-Haki platform from different regions of Kenya. Kisumu recorded a high number of questions most of which were labour related. Other regions that recorded a high number of questions are Nairobi Mombasa, Vihiga, and Kitui counties. Challenges and recommendations

1.	Integrating M-Haki with Facebook
At the moment, KITUO receives legal inquiries from Facebook messenger, comment section, Twitter and Instagram.  KITUO’s media team then advises the clients to channel their questions to the MHaki number. This has proven challenging for the clients, subscribers and media team. We propose an Integration of the social media platforms and website with M-Haki as an additional data source. This will ensure questions will be automatically synched to the M-Haki platform where they will be answered and automatically reflect on massagers, comments section or Instagram. This will also increase the number of questions to the platform and allow us meet our annual targets.  

2.	M-Haki Enhancements 
During the course of our interactions with the paralegals and Volunteer advocates the following was recommended:

a)	Admin Rights and Privacy
Currently, all the in-house advocates and volunteer advocates are super admins. This means they all have the rights to perform all the functions in the platform. This puts the platform at risk of manipulation. To protect the system, KITUO has resolved to give in house advocates, paralegals and VAs limited access. This will see the system have 3 categories of users, that is;

Admin 
-	This will only be reserved to select KITUO staff and will be allocated 3 slots.
-	They have all the admin rights; view, amend, edit, delete, allocate rights etc.
-	They will have the access to site logs. 
Admin B 
-	This will be allocated to the volunteer advocates and possibly paralegals in the future.
-	They will have the rights to view the new messages but NOT the client telephone numbers or responses by another advocate to enhance the advocate client confidentiality.
Members
-	Will be allocated to volunteer advocates and paralegals and friends of KITUO.
-	Will only view the overall site statistics but not the individual case context or phone numbers.
-	The volunteer advocates will occasionally be upgraded to Admin B to handle queries.

3.	Case status:
The system will be configured to auto update the status of any query as follows:
i.	Under Review- Yellow. 
This will be automatic to all new messages in the system. This would mean that a volunteer advocate will have to open the message to handle it.
ii.	In Process- Blue
 These are cases that have been handled by the volunteer advocates but awaiting approval by the Administrator.

iii.	Done- Green
These are queries that have been adequately answered by the volunteer advocates and the assessment by the Super Admin proves client satisfaction. MHAKI enhancement training
KITUO’s target for the reporting period was 80 (40male/40 female) volunteer advocates trained on using M-Haki, 50 (30 male/20 female) paralegals trained and using the platform and 20 (10 male/10 female) staff also trained on using the platform. KITUO conducted M-Haki enhancement training sessions for volunteer advocates, paralegals and KITUO staff in Nairobi and Kisumu.

Nairobi
The training took place on 3rd February 2022. There were one hundred participants, fifty-eight being male and fifty-two females. 

The participants were introduced to the geo-referencing feature within M-Haki, emphasizing its significance as an advocacy tool for both Kituo and community paralegals. KITUO guided the participants in understanding the concept behind M-Haki as an innovative tool for promoting access to justice.
Next, the participants received a detailed demonstration of the platform, highlighting the various enhancements and categories of matters available. The presenter particularly emphasized the feature of structuring posts, which allows users to view, triage, and manage posts in a chronological list format, organized by events over time.
The final session of the training concluded with a practical demonstration of how the system operates. This included real-time transmission of text messages to the online platform and their corresponding responses. The session also covered post management, such as a summary view on the left pane and post details and editing on the right pane, including options to mark posts as "In Progress," "Under Review," or "Done."
To facilitate hands-on learning, participants were encouraged to send sample questions to the M-Haki number, with a strong emphasis on the importance of including the name and location of the person asking a legal question on the platform.

The follow outputs were realized from the training in Nairobi:
•	Increased visibility of the M-Haki platform among access to justice actors and stakeholders.
•	Training conducted for 20 Kituo Cha Sheria staff, 50 volunteer advocates, and 30 community paralegals in Nairobi County on the enhanced M-Haki platform.
•	Empowered volunteer advocates and paralegals in Nairobi County on the effective utilization of the M-Haki platform for legal aid.

Concerns raised during the sessions:
1.	Client-Advocate Privacy: The issue of maintaining confidentiality in client-advocate interactions was a significant concern. Currently, all admins have access to client data, conversations, and other functions. It was suggested that limited backend access should be granted, and a manageable number of volunteer advocates, who have been vetted and signed confidentiality agreements, should be involved for increased accountability.
2.	Internet Support: Since M-Haki is an online system, internet access is required for users. Volunteer advocates and paralegals proposed that Kituo Cha Sheria should provide monthly internet bundles to support their usage of the platform. It was noted that answering questions on the platform is only possible when connected to the internet, as advocates cannot respond via SMS using their personal handsets directly.
Addressing these concerns would contribute to improving the functionality and privacy of the M-Haki platform while ensuring adequate support for its users.

Kisumu
The training was conducted in two phases on 8th July and 15th September 2022 at Royal City Hotel in Kisumu. There were one hundred participants. Fifty- four were male and fifty-six females.

The participants were given a comprehensive walkthrough of the M-Haki platform, focusing on the various enhancements that have been implemented and the different categories of matters available. During the presentation, significant emphasis was placed on the post structuring model, which enables users to effectively view, prioritize, and manage posts in a chronological list format.
Furthermore, the participants were guided through the geo-referencing feature within M-Haki, highlighting its importance to the platform as an advocacy tool for both KITUO and community paralegals.
The final session of the training included a demonstration of the system's functionality, showcasing how text messages are transmitted in real-time to the online platform and how they are promptly addressed. This demonstration also covered post management, including a summary view on the left pane and post details and editing on the right pane, with options to categorize posts as "In Progress," "Under Review," or "Done."
To facilitate practical learning, the participants were actively involved in sending sample questions to the M-Haki number, with particular emphasis placed on the importance of including the name and location of the person asking a legal question on the platform.
 The following outputs were realized: 

1.	Enhanced visibility for the M-Haki platform with access to justice actors and stakeholders.
2.	70 volunteer advocates and 30 community paralegals in Kisumu County trained on the enhanced M-Haki platform.
3.	Empowered volunteer advocates and paralegals in Kisumu County on the use of M-Haki to provide legal aid. During the course of our interactions with the volunteer advocates and paralegals, certain issues were raised regarding M-Haki during session. These include:

System Security – As at now the system allows all the admins to view all the client’s data, cross check client and advocate conversations and perform any other function that they wish to. The system has no history to trace what action has been performed by any user for example deletion of data. The system only associates users who respond to question with their account names. To keep the system more secure, the Vas should be granted limited backend access. the system should have, supper admin, admin and member each with different levels of access. 
Internet support - M-Haki is an online system that requires internet for advocates and paralegals to access. The Volunteer advocates and paralegals proposed that Kituo should at least support them with monthly internet bundles.  
M-Haki App – Advocates proposed that Kituo should have an M-Haki application so that they can answer questions real time without necessarily have to rely on computers to access the platform. 
Categorization of questions: Advocates have different areas of interest in law i.e. there are those who are only interested in handling land matters, labour or criminal matters etc. The advocates therefore proposed that the quality control team should first categorize the questions so that when they log into the system, they are able to sort and filter to easily identify the pending questions and attend to them. 
Other advocates also suggested that the system should be enhanced in such a way that upon categorization of the questions, they can be forwarded to them on a daily basis. Say at the end of the day an advocate would receive a notification stating ‘Dear Advocate James, you have xyz number of questions on land matter to attend to’ 
There is need to work with manageable number of Volunteer advocates who have been vetted, signed MHAKI code of conduct and confidentially agreement form for accountability purposes. 

During the interactions with volunteer advocates and paralegals, several issues regarding M-Haki were raised. These include:
1.	System Security: Currently, all admins have unrestricted access to view client data, check client-advocate conversations, and perform any desired functions. The system lacks a history log to track user actions, such as data deletion. To enhance system security, it is recommended to grant limited backend access to Volunteer Advocates (VAs). Implementing different user roles, such as super admin, admin, and member, with varying levels of access, would further enhance security.
2.	Internet Support: As M-Haki operates online, advocates and paralegals require internet access to utilize the platform. The VAs proposed that Kituo should provide monthly internet bundles to support their usage of the system.
3.	M-Haki App: Advocates suggested the development of an M-Haki application that would allow them to answer questions in real-time without solely relying on computers to access the platform.
4.	Categorization of Questions: Advocates have diverse areas of legal expertise, such as land matters, labor, or criminal law. They recommended that the quality control team categorize questions, enabling advocates to sort and filter them easily. This would help them identify and address pending questions related to their areas of interest.
5.	Daily Notifications: Some advocates proposed an enhancement where, upon question categorization, they would receive daily notifications specifying the number of questions they need to attend to in their respective areas of expertise. For example, Advocate James might receive a notification stating, "Dear Advocate James, you have XYZ number of questions on land matters to attend to."
6.	Managing Volunteer Advocates: To ensure accountability, it is essential to work with a manageable number of volunteer advocates who have been thoroughly vetted, signed the M-Haki code of conduct, and agreed to confidentiality agreements.
Addressing these concerns would contribute to strengthening the security, accessibility, efficiency, and user experience of the M-Haki platform for volunteer advocates and paralegals. PROGRESS TOWARDS OUTCOME 2: ENHANCED COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO JUSTICE Volunteer advocates mentorship and capacity building

On14th December, KITUO brought together thirty volunteer advocates, including ten senior advocates, for an enriching discussion. The focus was on sharing experiences related to strategic public interest litigation, pro bono practice, and the cultivation of these values within legal firms. The gathering provided a platform for the advocates to exchange ideas, perspectives, and best practices, thereby fostering a collective approach towards promoting social justice.

The outcome of this gathering was a strengthened commitment among the volunteer advocates to continue advocating for the rights of the marginalized and underprivileged. The exchange of experiences and insights from senior advocates offered valuable guidance to the younger members of the network, inspiring them to further their efforts in providing effective legal assistance to those in need.

By nurturing this network of volunteer advocates and encouraging collaboration among legal professionals, KITUO reinforces its mission of advancing social justice and protecting the rights of the poor and marginalized. The outcome of the discussion reaffirmed the collective determination to promote pro bono practice, strategic public interest litigation, and instill these values within legal firms, ultimately creating a more just and inclusive society for all.

The exchange of experiences and insights among the volunteer advocates, including the senior advocates, highlighted the importance of ongoing knowledge sharing and collaboration. Moving forward, they will continue to share best practices, legal developments, and practical skills to enhance their effectiveness in serving their clients and promoting social justice.

The presence of senior advocates also provided valuable mentorship and guidance to the younger members of the network. This mentorship relationship will continue to be nurtured, allowing for the transfer of knowledge, skills, and ethical values. The senior advocates will play a crucial role in supporting and guiding the next generation of legal professionals dedicated to pro bono practice and public interest litigation. 2.2. Radio shows

In 2022, KITUO held 8 radio talk-shows through community-based radio stations to sensitise the communities on various issues around access to justice. The talk-shows were held in 8 counties and with the audience participating through call-ins and SMS messaging. The overall reach was 3.6 million listeners Hereunder, the report highlights the particulars of some of the radio talk shows held in 2022. KITUO participated in a radio talk show hosted by Kididi FM to sensitize the public on access to justice and an intended legal aid clinic. During the presentation, 280,000. listeners tuned in for that particular per hour.

During the radio talk-shows, KITUO received feedback on its programmes and interventions. In addition, the listeners raised pertinent legal issues that were affecting their respective communities e.g. extrajudicial killings, police brutality, land etc. There was the general demand for legal information and knowledge within the community. There is a need to enhance outreach programmes and strengthen the presence of community justice centres so that they can respond adequately to the legal needs within their communities. 2.3. Network meetings
KITUO conducted meetings with the members of the Paralegal Society of Kenya to plan for the paralegal summit and the organization’s governance and activities. In addition, KITUO convened a meeting with stakeholders to submit a report during the Universal Periodic Review in November 2022. The joint report highlighted emerging human rights issues in the country.  KITUO is a member of the Missing Voices which seeks to document trends around police brutality and extrajudicial killings. In the year under review, KITUO participated in several meetings to discuss the interventions that the Missing Voices would undertake during the International Human Rights Day and World Torture Day.

From 19th to 21st July 2022, Kituo cha Sheria in partnership with the Legal Empowerment Network, International Development Research Centre and the African Centre of Excellence for Access to Justice, convened a meeting of legal empowerment practitioners from across Africa. The convening, held in Nairobi, Kenya brought together 15 grassroots and national legal empowerment organizations from West, East, Southern and the Horn of Africa. The objective of the meeting was to begin to build friendships, solidarity, partnerships and a community of practice around legal empowerment in Africa. We aimed to develop a clear roadmap detailing collective priorities, activities, responsibilities and timelines towards enhancing legal empowerment in the continent.

Kituo Cha Sheria joined Coast Civil Society Network for Human Rights for an inception meeting with County planning and finance department, Youth department and Health department at Royal Court in Mombasa. The meeting aimed on deliberating on how we can strengthen Citizen engagement to enhance service delivery in Mombasa County.
Kituo Cha Sheria participated in the Civil Society Forum for the AFRI cities 9 Summit in Kisumu. The two-day forum aims to discuss on key issues pertaining to the theme of the AFRI cities 9 Summit, “The role of intermediary cities in the implementation of the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063.” The Forum will address diverse issues on social justice, women’s political leadership, forced evictions, stakeholder engagement, adequate housing, Kenya’s position paper for AFRI cities 9 and climate change. While giving her remarks, Dr. Annette Mbogoh, emphasized on the need to monitor social justice plans to ensure that we do not end up with plans on paper that are not implemented. She sighted the AU Aspiration 3, which is yet to be implemented 10 years down the line and the SDG 16 as example. 2.4. Filing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) Case

Iten ELC Petition No. 007 of 2022 – Legal Advice Centre T/A Kituo cha Sheria & Anor v. Attorney General and 7 Others
KITUO filed a public interest case on behalf of members of marginalized and minority groups (and their ranks include extremely vulnerable groups such as children, women, youth, persons with disabilities and the elderly) living around Lake Baringo. The petition was provoked by several egregious constitutional violations directly linked to climate change impacts and rising water levels in Lake Baringo. Lake Baringo basin is mainly inhabited by the Ilchamus; Pokot and Tugen communities, who have lived on the lake’s shores as their ancestral home and eked out a livelihood from socio-economic activities enabled by the lake such as pastoralism, agriculture, fishing, and tourism among others. The region around Lake Baringo is home to approximately 5,000 households and is presently occupied by several hotels, and recreation facilities. It also hosts rural infrastructure, agricultural fields and grazing areas, churches, dispensaries, health centres, schools, and other social amenities.

In November 2019, the water levels in Lake Baringo began rising steadily with increased rainfall and increased inflows from perennial rivers that drain into the lake such as Perkerra and Molo rivers. By 2020, the water levels in Lake Baringo continued rising precipitously to unprecedented levels and affected the Petitioners by submerging roads, agricultural fields and grazing areas, churches, dispensaries, health centres, schools, and electricity lines, and completely destroyed their businesses and means of livelihood. This affected their lives in these ways: 
i.	Increased infections of malaria due to large swathes of breeding grounds for mosquitoes created by the water; 
ii.	Outbreak of cholera and typhoid due to seepage from submerged toilets that have contaminated drinking water;
iii.	Destruction of crops due to high water table;
iv.	Massive population displacement and loss of land and other forms of property;
v.	Relocation of the Petitioners to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps;
vi.	Increased human-wildlife conflicts due to shrinking habitats and movement of wildlife species closer to human settlements;
vii.	Lost livelihoods, infrastructure and investments that the Petitioners had acquired over years thereby rendering them poor and destitute;
viii.	Loss of employment and income opportunities due to businesses that have been completely destroyed;
ix.	A life of hardship, penury and abject poverty;
x.	Acute deprivation of the constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment; 
xi.	Loss of human dignity.
The community members continue to face acute climate vulnerability. 

A report commissioned by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in 2020 to study affected water bodies including Lake Baringo stated the cause of rising water levels as being hydro-meteorological variables due to climate change that have led to increased moisture availability as seen in the rainfall data and discharge of the rivers feeding the lakes. There is also increased soil in run off occasioned by land use changes which have increasingly added to the siltation of the lakes as seen in the sediment load in the rivers. All the Rift Valley lakes are situated in faulted terrain in the geologically active Eastern Africa Rift Valley and are therefore mainly controlled by the geological structures. For this reason, the increasing water levels are changing the composition of lake water thus affecting biodiversity. The main reason for the rising water levels is climate change. Evidence for this is provided by the level of rainfall in the catchment areas as documented in the various rainfall gauging stations.

KITUO argued that the State had failed to mainstream climate change responses as articulated in the Climate Change Act No. 11 of 2016. This is coupled with the refusal, failure or neglect to address the basic needs of the Petitioners who are members of marginalized communities and who have been rendered extremely vulnerable by the effects of climate change. The right to equal protection and benefit of the law, human dignity, the right to acquire and own property in any part of Kenya, the right to a clean and healthy environment that is protected for the benefit of present and future generations, rights to access land and be relocated in the event of displacement by natural causes, the right to health, adequate housing, clean and safe water in adequate quantities have been violated.

The Petition places the obligation to ensure comprehensive climate change programmes on the State. It highlights that the State, through its failure to protect against climate change has violated several human rights guaranteed in the Constitution of Kenya. It obligates the State to provide compensation to affected communities, provide shelter and livelihood, provide access to land to squatters and or persons displaced by natural causes; rehabilitate, relocate and restore infrastructure damaged by floods including roads, schools, dispensaries and health centres, electricity supply, water supply, and other essential infrastructure in Lake Baringo; undertake a thorough nation-wide assessment on how climate change elements such as temperature rise, change in precipitation, extreme weather events, sea level rise and seasonal shifts affect floods, drought water shortages (supply and quality), air quality, human health, and habitat loss; to conduct climate change scenarios and develop corresponding policy responses on how these changes will affect human population, infrastructure, the environment, the economy and the Kenyan society as a whole.

Nrb HCCC Constitutional Petition No. E123 of 2021 Kituo cha Sheria and Another –vs- The Attorney-General and 3 Others
The High Court of Kenya sitting in Nairobi temporarily stopped government from closure of camps and repatriating of refugees and asylum seekers living in Kakuma and Dadab camps. The two camps are home to more than 400,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Congo, Uganda among other nationalities. In the petition, Kituo cha Sheria argues that the proposed closure of the camps and repatriation of refugees to their home countries violates the principle of non-refoulement, right to asylum, human dignity, freedom and security of persons, Kenya’s international obligations under the 1951 UN Convention and the OAU Convention. The Petition is also supported by Deborah Thomas Kashindi, a Congolese refugee living in Kakuma refugee camp, who sought asylum in Kenya in February 2014. 

The Honorable Judge gave the following orders:
1.	A conservatory order suspending the 1st and 2nd Respondents from repatriating refugees and asylum seekers dwelling in the camps of Kakuma and Dadaab
2.	That the orders to be upon the Respondents and Interested party within 5 days 
3.	That each party should lodge their response within 14 days 
4.	That a further 14-day period is accorded filing of   supplementary affidavits if need be 
5.	The matters filed were consolidated.  
In the course of the reporting period, the State responded to the Petition indicating that the country was in the position of transitioning into settlements as provided under the Refugee Act 2021. The enactment of the aforesaid Act gave rise to new issues that would require the court’s interpretation. The parties have since argued the case, filed their submissions and await judgment. The Court will issue judgment on notice. 2.5. PIL Caucus

On 2nd December 2022, KITUO held a PIL caucus to discuss the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health for every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.

The caucus focused on the importance of access to safe drinking water, sanitation, nutritious foods, adequate housing, education, and safe working conditions is essential for good health. Lack of access to these basic needs is linked to poor health outcomes, particularly for marginalized individuals and communities. 

Marginalized individuals and communities often face stigma and discrimination, leading to adverse physical and mental health consequences. Discrimination in healthcare further exacerbates health disparities and becomes a major barrier to development.

The caucus also discussed empowerment of individuals to actively participate in their own healthcare, rather than being passive recipients, as being crucial. Respecting and promoting individuals' human rights, including their right to make informed decisions about their health, can lead to better health outcomes and more efficient health systems.

The PIL caucus also discussed advocacy and legal strategies to address health disparities and discrimination. This included exploring litigation and policy advocacy to ensure the protection of individuals' right to health and hold accountable those responsible for discriminatory practices. Collaborative approaches involving government agencies, civil society organizations, healthcare professionals, and affected communities. 2.6. Social Media campaigns
KITUO actively conducted a social media campaign to raise awareness on gender-based violence and human rights during the 16 days of activism culminating in the International Human Rights Day. KITUO’s social media platforms featured informative posts, infographics and videos on Sexual Gender Based Violence and human rights. The 16 days of activism campaign posts reached a total of 12,789 people and 6,002 engagements on Facebook while on Twitter 6,356 post reach and 431 engagements.
In addition, KITUO in partnership with the GIZ-Kenya participated in developing podcast content during the 16 days of activism to sensitize masses on access to justice for survivors of sexual violence. The podcasts can be accessed through these links: https://unitegizkenya.podigee.io/4-access-to-justice and https://unitegizkenya.podigee.io/5-access-to-justice 2.7. World Elder Abuse Day

On 15th June 2022, Kitui joined senior members of our society from Kibera and its environs to commemorate the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day at Canan Hall Soweto Highrise in Kibera Nairobi. Kituo was honored to highlight the work that it is doing to prevent and address the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older Kenyans including building strong support and promoting access to justice for elders as constitutionally enshrined under article 57 of the 2010 Constitution. Major (Rtd) John Seii the Myot Council of Elders’ Chairman, pointed out elder abuse as one of the least investigated types of violence that does not get addressed in national action plans as frequently as other key social issues. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is celebrated every year on 15th June and it aims at providing an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting the elderly. The activity was spearheaded by Kibera Day Care Centre for the elderly. Kituo was represented by Ms. Jacquelyn Jepchirchir Programme Officer, Jamia Abdulrahim and John Paul Makere both from Kibera Community Justice Centre. 2.8. Intersex Persons Day
Kituo Cha Sheria in collaboration with Gmat Resource Centre and Legal Resources Foundation - LRF 26th October 2022 commemorated the International Intersex Awareness Day held at Highridge primary school in Nairobi. Senior counsel John Chigiti who graced the event emphasized on the importance of educating the public and raising awareness of intersex persons. He stated that raising awareness of the experiences of people within the intersex spectrum, will help people better understand the kinds of challenges that intersex people face and how they can be supported and respected. Senior counsel noted that children born intersex also suffer suspicion, mostly treated as victims of a curse, shameful dark spell or as less humans. He expelled the backward beliefs stating that they are anchored on ignorance and unsubstantiated superstitions cemented by ignorance. “It is important that we have honest conversations in relation to intersex, where all shall be informed and educated on the topic, where many more will champion for the rights and recognition of intersex persons in the society.” Said Senior counsel Chigiti Intersex people are now recognized as Kenya’s third gender with an ‘I’ gender marker in response to the Children Act 2022. The new law requires intersex children to be treated with dignity and have equal access to basic services like medical treatment and education, in addition to social protection services as a special need. It also requires the accommodation of intersex children in child protection centers and other facilities. 2.9. International Human Rights Day
The Missing Voices Coalition in partnership with Kituo Cha Sheria and the coast civil societies reference group for human rights and security commemorated the International Human Rights Day celebrations on 10th December 2022 in Mombasa. The celebrations aimed at sensitizing the masses in enforced disappearances and extra-judicial executions. Two hundred and forty people attended the meeting. One hundred and fifty-three men and eighty-five women. KITU in partnership with the Nakuru Community Justice Centre organized a legal aid clinic in Marigat to sensitize masses on gender-based violence and access to justice. Baringo County Government officials attended and addressed participants on planned interventions to counter the rising levels of sexual and gender-based violence in the county. 2.10. Community legal aid clinics and outreach forums 

In the period under review, KITUO conducted legal aid clinics in Kwale, Nairobi, Vihiga, Kisumu, Kisii, Nakuru, Kitui, Taita Taveta and Turkana. Through the legal aid clinics, total number of 833 community members were reached. 390 were women and 443 were men. 
The legal aid clinics involved community paralegals, volunteer advocates and KITUO staff. There was a good turnout from members of the public which demonstrated that there was a substantial demand for legal assistance. Majority of the cases involved land, labour, housing, criminal, child maintenance, succession, gender-based violence and election-related cases. In cases that needed court intervention, referrals were made to KITUO volunteer advocates or in-house counsel. Through the legal aid clinics, KITUO enhanced access to justice and shared information on the location of the community justice centres and KITUO offices. 
Analysis:
1.	Comparison between counties:
•	Land-related cases: The counties with the highest number of land-related cases are Kwale (56 cases), Nakuru (45 cases), and Kitui (40 cases).
•	Labour-related cases: Kitui has the highest number of labour-related cases (35 cases), followed by Kisumu (30 cases).
•	Housing-related cases: Nairobi has the highest number of housing-related cases (30 cases), followed by Kisumu (8 cases).
•	GBV cases: Turkana records the highest number of GBV cases (42 cases), followed by Kwale (20 cases).
•	Criminal cases: Kisumu leads in criminal cases (14 cases), followed by Nakuru (7 cases).
2.	Identifying prevalent cases:
•	GBV (Gender-Based Violence) emerges as a prevalent issue in several counties, including Turkana, Kwale, and Kisii.
•	Land-related cases also appear to be significant, with high numbers in Kwale, Nakuru, and Kitui.
•	Labour-related cases are notable in Kitui and Kisumu.
3.	Regional differences:
•	Urban vs Rural: Nairobi, being an urban center, faces a substantial number of housing-related cases, whereas rural areas like Taita Taveta and Turkana have fewer or no housing-related cases.
•	GBV cases show regional variations, with high numbers in Turkana and Kwale, possibly indicating different social dynamics in these areas.
•	Child maintenance cases are relatively low across all counties, suggesting potential gaps or underreporting in addressing this issue.

The analysis reveals important insights into the types of cases reported in different counties. GBV and land-related cases appear to be prevalent issues in multiple counties, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and support. Labour-related cases, particularly in Kitui and Kisumu, also warrant attention. Regional differences highlight the importance of considering local contexts and challenges when formulating policies and interventions. PROGRESS TOWARDS OUTCOME 3: CAPACITY OF PRISON AND COMMUNITY PARALEGALS TO PROVIDE LEGAL AID STRENGTHENED Under this outcome, KITUO conducted capacity building and training for its community and prison paralegal justice centres. 

3.1. Paralegal Refresher Training and TOT for existing Community Justice Centers 
In the year under review, KITUO planned to train paralegals from 8 existing centers. We trained 25 paralegals in each of the community justice centres Kwale, Vihiga, Turkana, Kitui, Kisumu, Kamukunji, Kibera and Korogocho. In total, 200 paralegals were trained. 134 were men and 66 were women.
The comprehensive paralegal training program conducted by KITUO aimed to empower community paralegals, enhance access to justice, and empower community members. The training covered a wide range of legal topics, starting with in-depth training on fundamental human rights. This component emphasized the importance of human rights in promoting justice and equality within society.
The program also provided insights into the role and responsibilities of paralegals, highlighting their significance in providing legal assistance and support to community members. Paralegals were trained on effective client interviewing techniques, enabling them to gather essential information and assess the legal needs of individuals seeking their assistance.
In addition to fundamental legal concepts, the training program delved into specific areas of law. Paralegals received training on labor law, equipping them to address employment-related issues and provide guidance on labor rights and obligations. They also acquired knowledge of land law, enabling them to assist community members in matters related to land ownership, disputes, and tenure security.
The program introduced alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to paralegals, providing them with skills to mediate and resolve conflicts outside of formal court processes. Specialized training was also provided on gender-based violence, including its legal implications and strategies for providing support and assistance to survivors.
Paralegals were familiarized with small claims court procedures, empowering them to guide community members through the process of seeking resolution for smaller-scale disputes. They also gained insights into criminal law and procedures, enabling them to provide basic legal advice and support to individuals involved in criminal cases. Additionally, paralegals received training on self-representation in court, equipping them to guide individuals without legal representation through court procedures.
The paralegal training program had several significant impacts and benefits. Firstly, it improved access to justice by equipping paralegals with comprehensive legal knowledge and skills. This empowered them to effectively support and assist community members, enabling them to navigate the legal system and advocate for their rights. Moreover, the program fostered a culture of human rights awareness and protection, with paralegals playing a vital role in promoting and advocating for fundamental human rights within their communities.
The presence of well-trained paralegals within communities served as a valuable resource for individuals seeking legal guidance, advice, and representation. By strengthening community support systems, the training program empowered individuals to address legal challenges effectively and seek redress for their grievances.
The training took the form of a Training of Trainers with the intention of imparting sufficient skills and materials to the justice centres to continue recruiting and training the other community members as paralegals and the general public. 
While some centers achieved a balanced gender distribution, others had variations in the number of men and women trained. These findings highlight the importance of promoting gender inclusivity and encouraging more women's participation in future training programs to ensure equal opportunities for all individuals seeking justice and legal empowerment. 3.2. Paralegal Refresher Training and TOT for new Community Justice Centers 

The refresher trainings and Training of Trainers (TOTs) were held at the new community justice centers in Taita Taveta, Nakuru, and Kisii. The primary objective of these sessions was to enhance the knowledge and skills of paralegals in various areas of law and human rights, ensuring they were equipped with up-to-date information and tools to effectively serve their communities.

A total of 75 paralegals, consisting of 63 males and 22 females, participated in the training program. The gender imbalances were noted. Since the trainings were for already established justice centres, we found that the inequities arose after the initial training. This points out to more female paralegals leaving the practice even after the initial training. As a result, KITUO intends to conduct a diversity assessment of its justice centres improve on inclusivity.

They underwent comprehensive training in several key areas, expanding their expertise and capabilities to better address the legal needs of their communities. The training covered a range of topics, including paralegalism, human rights, criminal law and procedure, sexual and gender-based violence, land law, succession, labour law, alternative dispute resolution, and mental health and psychosocial support.

By covering these diverse topics, the training program aimed to equip paralegals with a comprehensive skill set to effectively address various legal issues faced by community members. The sessions not only expanded their legal knowledge but also emphasized the importance of empathy, ethical conduct, and holistic support for individuals seeking legal assistance.
The data shows that there is a higher representation of men compared to women in the training sessions conducted at the three community justice centers. Across all centers, a total of 63 men and 22 women were trained, with a combined total of 75 individuals reached.

These findings highlight the need for continued efforts to promote gender inclusivity in training programs. Encouraging more women's participation and ensuring equal opportunities for both genders can help create a more balanced and diverse pool of trained individuals to serve their communities effectively.

It is worth noting that the specific dynamics and factors contributing to the gender distribution within each center may require further investigation to fully understand the context and address any potential barriers or biases that could be influencing the outcomes. 3.3.  Refresher training and TOTs for existing prison justice centre

The TOT training was conducted in Kitale, Kamiti, Kodiaga, Lang'ata, Meru, Kakamega, and Nyeri-King'ong'o Prison Justice Centers. Each center trained 25 paralegals and 5 prison officers. The training covered various topics, including the basics of paralegalism, introduction to human rights, the Bill of Rights (Chapter 4 of the Constitution), the structure and jurisdictions of courts in Kenya, criminal law, the Criminal Procedure Code (Chapter 75 Laws of Kenya), specific offenses (offenses against the person, offenses against liberty, sexual offenses), the right to bail and bond, Bail and Bond Policy, powers of the court, provisions relating to all criminal investigations, mode of taking and recording evidence in trials, procedures in trials before a Subordinate Court and High Court, sentences and executions, appeals, self-representation (criminal approach), pre & post-sentencing proceedings, appellate jurisdiction, revision, retrial, and interlocutory criminal applications, drafting appeals, applications & submissions.

By conducting these trainings and empowering paralegals and prison officers, Kituo contributes to promoting access to justice and ensuring that legal support and education are provided to inmates, thereby upholding the principles of fairness, equity, and human rights within the criminal justice system. 3.4. Annual Paralegal Learning Forum
As part of KITUO’s activities to enhance learning and exchange amongst the network of paralegals in the country, the annual learning forum was held from 14th to 15th December 2022. 67 paralegals attended the summit. 38 were men and 37 were women. As part of the Paralegal Society of Kenya, KITUO alongside its partners- Legal Resources Foundation, the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists-Kenya and Ecumenical Centre for Peace and Justice. 
The paralegal summit sought to bring together paralegals from all parts of Kenya and East Africa to see exchange of best practices, challenges as well as possible avenues of collaboration. The 2022 theme was ‘Towards a robust and vibrant paralegal movement’. The objectives of the summit included mobilizing paralegals to register as Paralegals Society of Kenya members, building a capacity of Paralegals so as to establish and strengthen the county fora and providing a platform for engagement between paralegals and duty-bearers in the justice sector as well as providing a platform for experience sharing among the paralegals.
The PSK held its award ceremony after the Summit. One of the objectives of the summit was to award paralegals who have fiercely promoted access to Justice. The first-place winner of the community award service award was Michael Asao from the Korogocho Community Justice Centre. The second-place winner for the best prison justice men was Kamiti Maximum Prison and the third-best winner for the best overall community paralegal was Jamia Abdulrahim from Kibera Community Justice Centre.
The following awards were presented:
i)	Best Overall Community Paralegal - Jamia Abdulrahim
ii)	Best Community Paralegal - Ibrahim Ogeto
iii)	Best Prison Paralegal - Maurice Bora
iv)	Best Volunteer Advocate of the year - Anthony Mulekyo
v)	1st Runners Up Volunteer Advocate of the year - Dan Mulinga Mbaluka
vi)	2nd Runners Up Volunteer Advocate of the year - Huldah Ochieng
vii)	Posthumous Award of the year Volunteer Advocate of the year - Christine Mwikali Kipsang
viii)	Most Promising Young Volunteer Advocate of the year - Maureen Kemunto
ix)	Best Social Justice Centre (Community) - Nyando Social Justice Center
x)	Best Prison Justice Centre Men - Kamiti Maximum Prison
xi)	Community Service Award - Michael Asao
xii)	Best prison paralegal - Mathews Okweso 3.5. Civic Education Training for 8 justice centers on election monitoring
In August 2022, KITUO, an organization dedicated to promoting fair and transparent elections, trained and deployed a total of 165 election monitors across various counties in the country. The monitors, consisting of 89 men and 76 women, were tasked with observing and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process both within the communities and prison facilities.
The deployment of the election monitors aimed to monitor several key aspects of the electoral process, including:
1.	Security Deployment: The monitors were responsible for assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of security measures in place during the elections. They observed the deployment of security personnel to ensure a safe and peaceful voting environment for all citizens.
2.	Inclusivity of All Stakeholders: KITUO's monitors paid close attention to the inclusivity of all stakeholders in the electoral process. They observed whether measures were taken to accommodate individuals with disabilities, elderly voters, and marginalized communities, ensuring their right to participate in the elections.
3.	Gender Composition of Poll Officials: The monitors monitored the gender composition of the poll officials to assess whether there was equal representation of both men and women in key positions. This helped ensure a balanced and unbiased decision-making process throughout the election.
4.	Adherence to Poll Timelines: KITUO's monitors closely observed the adherence to poll timelines to ensure that the electoral process progressed smoothly and according to the scheduled timeline. This included monitoring the opening and closing of polling stations, as well as the timely counting and announcement of results.
5.	Transparency of the Whole Process: Transparency was a crucial aspect of the electoral process, and the monitors were deployed to ensure its implementation. They assessed whether the process was conducted openly, with clear procedures, and whether the results were accurately recorded and communicated to the public.
KITUO's election observers were deployed to specific prisons, including Nyeri Maximum, Kisii Main, Shimo La Tewa, Lang'ata Women, Kitale, Naivasha Medium, Manyani, Kodiaga, Kamiti, Kakamega, Meru, and Eldoret. Additionally, other monitors were stationed in polling stations across various counties, including Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa, Taita Taveta, Homa Bay, Makueni, Siaya, Kitui, Nairobi, Nakuru, Vihiga, Kisumu, Kisii, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Wajir, and Turkana.
The presence of these trained monitors in these locations played a vital role in ensuring the fairness, transparency, and inclusivity of the electoral process. Their observations and reports provided valuable insights into the conduct of the elections, contributing to the overall credibility and legitimacy of the democratic process in the country. Briefly, the findings of the election monitoring are described hereunder:

Gender Composition of poll officials
In all the 123 stations that our observers were deployed to, the male dominated the composition of the presiding officers at 71 (58%) with the female ones accounting for 52 (42%).


In the stations that KITUO monitored, the highest number of individuals assisted to vote was 39 recorded at Madago Primary School –Stream 2, Msambweni, Kwale County. Out of this number, female voters accounted for 32 of the total.  

In all the stations observed by KITUO, there were a total of 4213 voters, out of which 173 voters were assisted to vote. Security Deployment

There was adequate security deployment in all the stations in which KITUO deployed its monitors. 
State security personnel drawn from Regular Police (KP), Administration Police (AP), National Youth Service (NYS) and Kenya Prison Service (KPS) were present at the polling Centers when the exercise kicked off at 6:00am. The officers present provided security until such a time when vote counting, tallying and announcement of election results at the polling centers. Officers present at the polling station conducted themselves in a neutral and professional manner. They were forced to apply reasonable force at some point to keep unruly voters on the queue.  However, there major security hiccups in Eldas main tallying centre in Wajir county. Heavy gunfire marred the centre. A presiding officer was shot in the leg and this jeopardized the whole observation exercise as there were serious safety concerns. 

The deployment of the election officials ranged from 5-9 per polling station that KITUO observed.

In Nakuru County, Kaptembwo area some voters opted not to participate in the exercise and travelled back to their rural homes due to uncertainty of the security situation post the election day.
There was a delay of almost 1 hour before the opening of the Nakuru Boys High School Stream 6 because the KIEMS kit was missing and the PO had to dash to their offices to get it. 
In Rongai Constituency, Nakuru County the ballot papers for the Member of National Assembly were missing. Voting for the post was postponed throughout the whole constituency.  
Similarly, there was no voting for governors in Kakamega and Mombasa counties due to a mix up of the ballot papers. The exercise was postponed to a later date. Meanwhile voting for the other positions proceeded smoothly. 

In most of the stations where KITUO deployed observers, there was good cooperation between the IEBC polling staff and the observers and agents. However, some of our observers found difficulty accessing some polling stations such as; Marura Polling Station in Embakasi North, Attanas Kandie Primary School- Turbo Constituency and Matuga Constituency where the POs wanted the observers to provide a signed and stamped oath of secrecy. 
In Dandora Primary polling station Embakasi North, voting begun with the ballot box unsealed They were later sealed when members of the public raised alarm at around 9.30am.
 
In Chaminade Polling station no 9 in Embakasi East, there were no verification forms at the beginning forcing the PO to use an exercise book, they were brought later at 2 pm.

In Kamukunji Constituency, in some stations names of all voters who were manually verified marked or crossed out in the printed voters register. Voter Bribery (Kamukunji Constituency)
a)	Child Survival Primary School:-
Voters with ID cards whose registration details were found on IEBC data were assisted by the presiding officer and or a person of his/her own choice in consultation with the observer and party agents. At some point one candidate came to the poling center and started bribing voters by giving them Kshs. 200/- each in order for them vote for him in broad daylight cause commotion. 

b)	Zawadi Primary School- A marked ballot paper for woman rep was found in the ballot box marked with a red mark. It is suspect that someone had tried to mark the ballot paper secretly with a red pen. After consultation between the presiding officer, his deputy, party agents and observers’ were able to address and settle the issue amicably. Voter bribery by a particular candidate was also observed. Some party agents were giving voters Kshs. 300/- to vote for their candidate.  

c)	Eastleigh Airport Primary School- Some aspirant’s particularly independent candidates were seen campaigning openly at the polling station and coercing unsuspecting voters to vote for them. In Stream 7 a voter was only given five ballot papers by the issuing clerk and the presiding officer only realized after the agents complained and a voter happened to know him and went to look for him for he had already left and later he was called to vote the ballot paper left. An aspirant was giving an amount of 200ksh to voters in the queue to vote for him. Another aspirant was also giving 300ksh to voters.


d)	St. Teresa Boys Primary School- UDA supporters and those of Azimio were engaged in confrontation outside the polling station and a UDA supporter was sprayed with unknown chemical in the eyes and was rescued by colleagues and taken away to unknown location. 

e)	Our Lady of Mercy Girls Primary School- Some party agents came to the drunk and tried to cause chaos but were ordered out of the station by security officers on duty.  Voter bribery issue was also observed. Some party agents tried to bribe voters with between Kshs. 500 and 1000/- but were arrested but later released by security officers.       
In 2022, the prison justice centres attended to 5,277 inmates. 3.6. Monthly monitoring and administrative support of prisons and community paralegal justice centres
In the course of the year, KITUO supplied stationery support to its prison justice centers and administrative financial support to its community centers. The centres submitted monthly reports in the specific formats. Each report would also have the coordinator's reports and summary of success stories and challenges experienced each month. These reports would contribute to informing the team on the needs of each centre and the best interventions to undertake and include in the training curriculum.

Through the capacity building training and monthly support, the prison justice centres have assisted other inmates and remandees to access justice. The table below demonstrates the number of people within the prison community that have benefitted from the legal support of the different prison justice centres. Communication (IEC) materials and creative MHAKI blog-Vlogs and production / dissemination of interactive and creative Haki Blog-Vlogs on access to justice and other human rights. 
We successfully produced and disseminated 920 Polo t-shirts with messaging for M-Haki and paralegal t-shirts, 4,000 MHAKI reflector jackets, 600 know your land rights booklets, 2000 Constitutions, 1,000 labour law booklets, 2,000 MHaki flyers and published articles on the Haki Blog. The materials were distributed during the course of the trainings and outreaches. 

The Land Law and Labour Law booklet were reviewed internally so as to update them in line with law reform. The Land Law booklet was shared with the National Land Commission for their validation since it was going to be a second edition of a previous joint publication. Recommendations 

1.	Enhance legal aid clinic services. Building on the success of the legal aid clinics, it is recommended to strengthen and expand their operations. This can be achieved by establishing engaging paralegals in the clinics to provide these services to community members.
2.	Promote collaboration and coordination. Strengthening partnerships between community paralegals and volunteer advocates proved to be beneficial. To further enhance the impact of their combined efforts, it is recommended to facilitate regular meetings, workshops, and knowledge-sharing platforms. This will promote collaboration, exchange best practices, and ensure a coordinated approach to addressing legal challenges faced by marginalized communities.
3.	Advocate for pro-poor policies. The project's advocacy component played a significant role in addressing systemic issues and promoting pro-poor policies. To continue influencing policy changes, it is recommended to engage with relevant stakeholders, including government bodies, civil society organizations, and policymakers. Collaboration and strategic advocacy efforts can help create an enabling environment for access to justice and legal empowerment initiatives.
4.	Deepen partnerships with justice centres. Strengthening the existing partnership between Kituo Cha Sheria and justice centers is crucial for sustainable impact. Exploring opportunities to expand the network of justice centers and foster collaboration with a wider range of stakeholders, including legal aid organizations, law schools, and community-based organizations. This will broaden the reach and scope of access to justice initiatives.