The overarching values and goals of the National Legal Aid Service are closely tied to creating an equitable and inclusive Kenya. In line with this, the launch of the MOU on the Collaborative Justice and Grievance Framework was held, and our Chairperson gave the speech below:
The Principal Secretary, Hon. Judith Pareno, distinguished leaders from the Ministry of Justice, the leadership of Del Monte Kenya Limited led by the MD Mr. Wayne Cook, Mr. Yusuf Mahmoud Aboubacar, the Executive Director of HAKI Africa and other representatives, our CEO Ms. Fresiah Githumbi, fellow Board Members, representatives of Civil society organisations, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
It is both an honour and a privilege to stand before you today on behalf of the Board of Directors of the National Legal Aid Service (NLAS) as we witness the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding.
Today is more than a ceremonial occasion. It is a defining moment in our collective pursuit of a more just, equitable, and inclusive Kenya. Through this partnership, we affirm a simple yet profound principle: that access to justice should never depend on one’s location, social status, or economic circumstances. Justice must be available wherever Kenyans live, work, raise their families, and pursue opportunity.
At the National Legal Aid Service, our guiding motto is Haki na Usawa kwa Wote—Justice and Equality for All. These are not merely aspirational words; they are the standard against which we measure our work. Yet we also recognize that for far too many Kenyans—particularly those in marginalized, vulnerable, and rural communities—the path to justice has too often been obstructed by distance, financial hardship, and complex legal processes.
Today, through the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, we transform that aspiration into practical action.
This collaboration between the State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs, the National Legal Aid Service, Del Monte Kenya Limited, and HAKI Africa represents a powerful example of what can be achieved when government, the private sector, and civil society unite behind a common purpose.
It reflects a shared understanding that justice is not the responsibility of one institution alone. It is a collective national endeavour.
This partnership is firmly anchored in the Constitution of Kenya, particularly Article 48 on Access to Justice, while advancing the aspirations of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and Kenya’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (2025–2030). It demonstrates that economic growth and the protection of human rights are not competing priorities; they are complementary pillars of sustainable development and responsible governance.
What distinguishes this Memorandum is its emphasis on meaningful implementation.
First, it brings justice closer to the people through the establishment of ten specially designed container-based legal aid facilities. We commend Del Monte Kenya Limited for its generous commitment in fully funding the fabrication and installation of these units. Five will support Operational Grievance Mechanisms within Del Monte’s areas of operation, while the remaining five will be entrusted to the National Legal Aid Service for deployment as Justice Advisory Centres in underserved communities across the country. These centres will significantly expand the reach of legal aid services to those who need them most.
Second, through the technical expertise of HAKI Africa and the active participation of Social Justice Centres, these facilities will serve as community-based platforms for legal advice, legal awareness, mediation, and effective referral pathways. They will strengthen Alternative Justice Systems while creating stronger connections between community-level dispute resolution and Kenya’s formal justice institutions.
Third, and equally important, this partnership preserves the independence and integrity of every participating institution. The Board of the National Legal Aid Service remains steadfast in safeguarding the statutory independence, impartiality, and professionalism of our legal aid mandate. Every legal aid decision will continue to be guided solely by the law, with strict respect for confidentiality, fairness, and the protection of vulnerable persons, including women, children, persons with disabilities, and whistleblowers.
Allow me to express our sincere appreciation to each of our partners.
To the State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs, thank you for your visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to strengthening access to justice and advancing the rule of law.
To Del Monte Kenya Limited, we commend your exemplary demonstration of responsible corporate citizenship. Through this partnership, you have shown that corporate success is measured not only by commercial achievement, but also by the positive and lasting impact an organization leaves within the communities it serves.
To HAKI Africa and the dedicated community human rights defenders, we thank you for your steadfast commitment to empowering communities and ensuring that the voices of ordinary citizens continue to shape our justice system. Your work reminds us that access to justice begins where people live, long before they enter a courtroom.
As the Board of the National Legal Aid Service, we recognize that the true measure of this partnership will not be found in the signatures we append today, but in the lives we transform tomorrow. We therefore reaffirm our commitment to providing strategic oversight that ensures this Memorandum is implemented with the highest standards of accountability, transparency, integrity, prudent stewardship of public resources, and measurable impact.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The strength of any nation is measured not only by the prosperity of its economy, but by the fairness of its institutions and the confidence its people have that justice is within their reach.
Let this partnership become a model of what is possible when public institutions, private enterprise, and civil society work together in pursuit of the common good.
Let it stand as a reminder that justice is not a privilege reserved for a fortunate few—it is a constitutional promise owed to every Kenyan.
Together, let us continue building a Kenya where Haki na Usawa kwa Wote is not merely our motto, but the lived experience of every citizen.
I look forward to even greater collaboration as we continue advancing access to justice across our nation.
Thank you, and may God bless you all.