By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, 4 June 2026 - The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), in partnership with Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Kenya, on Thursday concluded a three-day legal aid clinic at the Dadaab Refugee Complex aimed at enhancing access to justice and promoting awareness of human rights among refugees and host communities.
The initiative culminated in a legal awareness and sensitisation session at Dagahley Refugee Camp, bringing together vulnerable refugees and residents from surrounding host communities, many of whom are pastoralists facing challenges in accessing legal services and understanding their rights.
According to the Commission, the programme sought to address barriers to justice by equipping participants with knowledge on human rights, prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV), child protection, and available legal aid services.
The sessions were led by NGEC's Garissa Regional Head, Abdiwahab Ibrahim, who underscored the importance of empowering communities through rights awareness and legal support.
“The clinic provided an important platform for community members to receive legal information, seek guidance on rights-related concerns, and learn about the support mechanisms available to them,” the Commission said in a statement.
Dadaab hosts hundreds of thousands of refugees, while the surrounding host communities continue to grapple with socio-economic challenges that often limit access to legal information and justice services.
Human rights advocates have long noted that lack of awareness about legal rights, coupled with poverty and distance from formal institutions, leaves many vulnerable people unable to seek redress when their rights are violated.
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NGEC said the legal aid clinic enabled participants to engage directly with legal experts and receive guidance on a range of issues affecting their daily lives.
The Commission noted that the initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen access to justice and protect the rights and dignity of vulnerable populations, including women, children, refugees and marginalised groups.
“Through these efforts, NGEC and LWF Kenya continue to empower communities, strengthen access to justice, and promote the protection of the rights and dignity of vulnerable populations,” the statement said.
The Commission added that building informed and rights-aware communities remains critical in fostering resilience, social inclusion and the protection of fundamental freedoms for both refugees and host populations in Northern Kenya.
NGEC Takes Legal Aid Services to Dadaab Refugees and Host Communities
NGEC has emphasised that building informed and rights-aware communities remains critical in fostering resilience.