Kiambu Women Representative aspirant and lawyer Phylis Wangui has launched a free legal aid programme aimed at helping residents understand their rights and access justice without the burden of legal fees.
The initiative seeks to bring legal services closer to residents facing financial constraints or lacking information about available legal remedies, particularly vulnerable individuals who struggle to secure professional legal assistance.
Under the programme, residents will receive guidance on family disputes, land matters, succession, employment concerns, gender-based violence and other civil and criminal cases. The initiative is also expected to provide legal awareness and direct residents to relevant institutions for further assistance where necessary.
Speaking during the launch, Wangui said many residents continued to suffer injustice because they were unaware of their rights or could not afford legal representation.
“I’m ready to offer free legal services to all residents of Kiambu irrespective of their place of origin, I will educate them how to navigate legal road blocks and solve day to day family issues,” she said.
Wangui said the programme would empower vulnerable members of the community by equipping them with the legal knowledge needed to address disputes and pursue appropriate remedies.
She further noted that the initiative would focus on addressing gender-based violence within families, an issue she said required increased public awareness, community engagement and access to support services.
The lawyer said she planned to organise meetings at the village level to educate residents on peaceful coexistence, family responsibilities and the importance of establishing healthy family relationships.
“I’m ready to liberate our people by giving free services to ensure they live comfortably life,” she said.
Wangui maintained that access to justice should not be determined by a person’s financial status, arguing that residents deserved an opportunity to understand the law and seek remedies whenever their rights were violated.
She added that the programme would involve legal professionals and other stakeholders to help residents obtain reliable advice and appropriate support when dealing with legal challenges.
The initiative is also expected to sensitise residents on the importance of seeking legal advice before making decisions that could expose them to prolonged disputes, financial losses or other legal complications.
Land ownership and succession disputes remain important concerns for many families, while employment disagreements and domestic conflicts can leave affected individuals struggling to understand the legal options available to them.
Through community-level engagement, the programme seeks to improve awareness of legal rights and encourage residents to seek assistance before disputes escalate.
Residents who attended the launch welcomed the initiative, saying it could help people who had been forced to abandon legitimate claims because they could not afford legal services.
Mary Wambui, a resident of Githunguri, called for the programme to be extended to all parts of Kiambu County and conducted regularly to reach more people, particularly those living in rural areas.
She said sustained outreach would help ensure that residents who face barriers to accessing legal services could benefit from the initiative.
The launch marks an effort to promote legal awareness and improve access to justice across Kiambu County, with the programme expected to focus on community education and assistance to residents facing different legal challenges.
