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Give Capital Offenders Lawyers, State Urged

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Published on Monday, 02 July 2007 04:14
People charged with capital offences should receive free legal services from the Government, the Law Society of Kenya says."Why does the Government offer free legal services to suspects facing murder charges and not those facing capital offences like robbery with violence?" asked LSK Nyanza South Chairman Albert Mudeyi. Mr Mudeyi was speaking at Kisii Main Prison where he launched a paralegal prison project. He represented LSK chairman Okong'o O'Mogeni.

NGO Centre for Community Law and Rural Development Executive director Ezekiel Abuya and Kisii Prison chief Julius Adero attended the function.The NGO and the LSK will liaise to offer poor people in remand and convicts free legal services, he said.Mr Mudeyi and Mr Abuya said that more than 80 per cent of Kenyans do not have access to legal services due to poverty and corruption. He said that out of 6,000 qualified lawyers, only 3,000 were practising advocates.

Mr Adero praised the initiative saying it would help prisoners and those in remand get legal services.Mr Mudeyi and Mr Abuya regretted that most suspects were being convicted on offences they did not commit due to coercion and ignorance to admit to the charges.At least three paralegals will be trained in every sub-location in the country, said Mr Abuya.Already more than 100 of them have been trained in Nyamira, Rachuonyo and Gucha districts.