Martin Luther King Jr. in his most famous speech at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial proclaimed, ‘We will refuse to believe that the bank of Justice is bankrupt’. Forty-six years later I stand on a different continent with new problems, however Luther’s ideology of Justice still stands strong.
My travels have brought me to Kenya in the heart of East Africa as part of an eight-month internship with the charity Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship. The justice system lies sweltering with the heat of injustice. In response we provide legal aid to those who are unable to pay professional fees and would otherwise be left to fend for their own rights. Embracing the vision of providing the poorest in developing societies with access to justice is a huge ask, yet the day to day imprints we embed in society has the potential to change many lives.
I landed on Kenyan soil on the 1st November ready to exchange currencies and climate. An average temperature of 30 degrees C makes for an unusual run up to the Christmas period but then again so does paying 24p for a bottle of coke. My first day was spent in court as assistant counsel for a man called Brian who had been framed for robbery. The offence carried a maximum sentence of 14 years, however after trial Brian walked free as our team exploited major flaws in the police evidence. This was a significant success for LCF and another step on the road to Justice. I had a dream and I’m living it – Thank you for all the support.
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