Kericho: A paralegal in Kericho County, Mr. Joel Kibet arap Soi, is advocating for the sensitization of communities on ways to access justice systems to ensure their rights and privileges are upheld. Soi highlighted the crucial role they play in bridging the gap between the public and the justice system to enable vulnerable and marginalized groups to access justice.
According to Kenya News Agency, Soi, in an interview at his office in Tabaita village within Soin/Sigowet sub-county, emphasized the urgent need to educate community members on Kenyan laws governing children's and family rights. He advised citizens to seek justice through established legal and arbitration channels, noting that not all disputes should be resolved through informal or so-called kangaroo courts.
During his community engagements, Soi observed that in Soin/Sigowet sub-county, a section of the community does not prioritize the education of girls. As a result, girls often enter early marriages once they come of age, and cases of defilement are rarely treated as criminal offenses, despite explicit laws on sexual offenses involving minors. His office has dealt with several defilement cases from the sub-county that families attempted to resolve informally. These cases are now pending before the court, with pro bono lawyers providing legal representation to the victims.
Soi revealed that in the current month alone, his office is handling three cases involving girls rescued from early marriages. He noted that girls in the Tabaita village face a high risk of early marriage and defilement due to limited awareness of their rights. On average, four to five defilement cases from this village are reported to his office monthly. Cultural attitudes persist where girls are viewed as undeserving of education and expected to be married off upon reaching puberty. Additionally, there is a misconception that female children are not entitled to inherit their deceased parents' property, exposing them to abuse and discrimination.
Calling for national government intervention, Soi, a member of the Paralegal Society of Kenya (PSC), stressed the need for more paralegals. The vast coverage area and limited staffing hinder effective community education on laws governing children and family rights. Kericho County's distribution of paralegal services is imbalanced, with only nine paralegals serving six sub-counties. Ainamoi has five paralegals, while Soin/Sigowet and Belgut are covered by a single officer. Londiani, Bureti, and Kipkelion sub-counties each have only one paralegal.
The lack of safe houses for survivors of defilement and early marriages in the county is another concern raised by Soi. He emphasized the need for safe houses as entry points for essential services, including medical care, trauma counseling, legal aid, and police follow-up, to ensure survivors can continue their education and pursue justice.
Paralegals in Kenya play a vital role in bridging the gap between communities and the justice system by offering legal awareness, basic advice, and support to vulnerable groups. They help individuals understand their rights, guide survivors of rights violations, and link community members to courts, police, lawyers, and social services. Additionally, paralegals are instrumental in community education, dispute resolution, and grassroots advocacy for human rights and the rule of law.